Casandra Martin

“Thanksgiving is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

For many, thanksgiving is a day, a meal, and perhaps a few words. For Christians, it is so much more. Thanksgiving is a way of living that both sees and proclaims the presence of God in the everyday.

What does a life of gratitude look like? In very practical terms, how will my life look different if I practice regular, daily, deliberate thanksgiving?

– There would be less worry, and more worship.

– There would be less panic, and more praise.

– There would be less independence, and more trust.

– There would be less stress, and more surrender.

– There would be less whining, and more waiting.

– There would be less jitters, and more joy.

– There would be less selfishness, and more service.

– There would be less complaining, and more celebrating.

– There would be less hurry, and more holiness.

– There would be less grumbling, and more grace.

– There would be less keeping score, and more keeping watch.

– There would be less tantrums, and more transformation.

My Jesus Resolution today is to live my gratitude. The list above is pretty sobering for me. The “less” list is a pretty honest snapshot of some of my days. I don’t want those things to define me, but they tend to be my default. I can go through whole days, weeks, even seasons that are painted with the “less” brush. God didn’t promise me a “less” life. God always stands ready to pour “more” into my days. The “more” list is who I want to be. The “more” list is who God intends for me to be when I allow my heart, mind, and soul be saturated with gratitude.