To Be or Not To Be? That's One of the Questions.

It’s that time of year again when America cozies up to the practice of “giving thanks.” Thoughts of appreciation emerge from dinner-table discussions. Well-produced TV commercials tug at our emotions. Yes, as the calendar hits about the third week of November, the question of the day becomes, “What are YOU thankful for?” as all of a sudden the world seems to be on a mission to prove its sufficient attitude of gratitude.

Have you ever considered that urging people to articulate their thankfulness may be just a little useless? I mean, can you force someone to be thankful? Do I need to be reminded to be thankful? Does talking about my blessings improve my “thankfulnessability?”

Furthermore, how do you even define “thankfulness?” Ok, maybe it’s appreciation for an object or objects in one’s life. So then, how would you define “appreciation?” Maybe, a feeling of … well, hm...

…I was about to say “thankfulness.” But that's no good.

It’s obvious that thankfulness is much easier to experience than it is to describe. I may not be able to put into words what I feel, but I know exactly what it feels like to be thankful. The point is simple. We are told, most notably, by God to GIVE thanks. But we can’t honestly GIVE thanks unless we can first BE thankful. Thankful is not as much something I “do” as it is something I “am.”

“I can’t explain it. I can’t obtain it. Jesus, Your love is so, it’s so amazing.”

And think about this. Thankfulness is a natural reflection of God—the Object of our gratefulness. We are thankful to Him because of Who He IS—not just because of what He DOES. God is an “IS” God. He is a “BE” God. He’s the Great “I AM.”

Today when we sit around the table and it comes our turn to offer personal musings, wouldn’t it be nice to pass around some honesty? It’d be refreshing if we didn’t have to scratch our brains for something unique or clever to say. Maybe this year the kids won’t roll their eyes at the ritual. Why? Because instead of speaking because it’s the thing to do, we’ll give thanks with a grateful heart—a heart overflowing with unrestrained appreciation.

Don’t just DO thankful. BE thankful☺

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalms 100:4