Gratitude is an attitude that overflows from a content heart; I have learned to stop and open my mouth {so I can hear myself} to give thanks when my fool heart insists on seeing what is not instead of seeing what is already there.
So, I invite you today to raise your voice {so you can hear yourself} and give thanks to our Lord for all things in all circumstances. We believe God is Sovereign, but we fail sometimes to trust in His Sovereign hand; sometimes I give thanks when I clearly see His hand working on my behalf but some other times I fail to give thanks when things seem not to be alright.
“Thanksgiving looks up with every breath, and sees God as Father from whom all blessings come. Thanksgiving is praise. The heart is full of gratitude. Every moment has something in it to inspire love. The lilies made Jesus think of his Father, for it was he who clothed them in beauty. The providence of our lives, if we think rightly of it, is simply God caring for us. Our circumstances may sometimes be hard, our experiences painful, and we may see nothing in them to make us glad. But faith teaches us that God is always good and always kind, whatever the present events may be. We may be thankful, therefore, even when we cannot be glad. Our hearts may be grateful, knowing that good will come to us even out of pain and loss.” J.R. Miller
A grateful heart speaks out its gratefulness, a grateful heart cannot be quiet. And even though we are first of all grateful to our Heavenly Father for all things, our gratitude must reach those around us.
This week I want to journey speaking out loud my gratefulness to the Lord and to those around me; a thank you note to my daughter, to my husband, to my friend, to my mom, to my sister…
Lord, thank you…
690. My husband reaching out for my hand.
691. My Beloved leaving early for work to provide for us.
692. My friend Rox.
693. Our son’s friend admitted into college.
694. My friend Ga, and the life lessons she teaches me.
695. My daughter’s embrace and sweet words.
696. Our friends in Belgium.
697. My friends Teri and Eileen who are just one phone call away.
698. Friends who heard me breathing love as I wrote to them.
699. My husband’s patience and loving kindness.
700. My mom and dad.
701. Nights to think and pray.
702. Filling college applications.
703. Longing for my husband’s embrace at the end of the day.
704. Friends over.
705. Chocolate chip cookies and smiles.
706. Books and a bookshelf.
707. Raising Homemakers
708. A good conversation about bikinis
709. Marriage.
708. Rosemary and limes.
709. Lilies
710. A baby shower.
711. Gifts made by hand.
“Christian thanksgiving is the life of Christ in the heart, transforming the disposition and the whole character. Thanksgiving must be wrought into the life as a habit—before it can become a fixed and permanent quality. An occasional burst of praise, in the midst of years of complaining, is not what is required. Songs on rare, sunshiny days; and no songs when skies are cloudy—will not make a life of gratitude. The heart must learn to sing always. This lesson is learned only when it becomes a habit which nothing can weaken. We must persist in being thankful. When we can see no reason for praise—we must believe in the divine love and goodness, and sing in the darkness. Thanksgiving has attained its rightful place in us, only when it is part of all our days and dominates all our experiences.” J.R. Miller 1912
May your week be filled with the habit of praise and thanksgiving; let us learn along with our children to persist in being thankful; let thanksgiving be part of all our days and dominate all our experiences. Let our voice be heard.
What are you grateful for today?
Daily On My Way to Heaven 
Beautiful, Becky! These humble expressions of gratitude are always a reminder to me of the goodness of God in my own life
Thank you and have a beautiful day in the Lord!
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Pilgrim Mommy, Petra and Diane, I am grateful for you! Thank you for coming, thank you for your lives.
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I am thankful that you always remind me to be thankful for the little daily blessings. Those small things we often over look in haste.
Blessing sister Becky!
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I’m so thankful to have you as such an encouraging friend! This is another beautiful post. Love and blessings!
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I am thankful that my daughter is back home. I’m thankful for my church. I’m thankful for recent rain, cooler weather, and that I could start the lawn mower today. 🙂
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord!
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