For most of us giving thanks and expressing gratitude is greatly emphasized and exercised when we first started to interact with our peers ~ that’s usually in pre-school or kindergarten. As we age, learning how to express ourselves by saying “please” and “thank you” is eventually used in every aspect of our lives ~personal, business, professional and it lasts a lifetime.
Let’s be honest, saying thank you and expressing gratitude is genuine common courtesy.
I recall when my mother was training me how to properly “set the table” for dinner. Everything had its place on the table. After I completed my assigned task of placing the china, silverware and glassware we gathered around the table. My mother led the family in a collaborative prayer of thanksgiving before partaking in a bounty of food that set before us. She concluded the prayer with “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, King James) That was her way of a solo expression of giving thanks.
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Giving thanks and demonstrating gratitude should be expressed daily and continuously and be one of our most admirable traits. We should allow it to become second nature.
During this season across North America and countries around the globe, families and friends will fellowship, dine and give thanks for how the Most High God has preserved their strength, health and sanity throughout the year.
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In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 the Bible records, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We may not always say thanks, however subconsciously we act it out. We arrive home after a long day and take off our shoes. We sit down on the plush, comfortable sofa. And then we release a long, hard sigh. That is our inaudible way of praying and or giving thanks (Romans 8:26). Our non-verbal cues say more than we can adequately verbally express.
Saying ‘thank you’ has its own rewards.
A scientific study asserts that having a sense of gratitude manifests great benefits and through our acts we gain mental, physical and spiritual fortitude. Although there are countless ‘return on our investments’ of gratitude, here is an abbreviated version.
Expressing thanks has mental benefits
Our acts and verbal expressions of gratitude will increase our mental stability because of our consideration for others. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 9:11 “that you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” The current mercurial news cycle will cause us to continually pray, praise and express a greater level of gratitude with the expectation of a favorable outcome.
Expressing thanks has physical benefits
A study on patients’ gratitude and the effects on their perspective and blood pressure revealed that patients with hypertension significantly decreased their systolic blood pressure numbers when instructed to “count their blessings.” (3 John 1:2 New International Version) “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
Expressing thanks has spiritual benefits
When we pour out our gratitude of thanksgiving with authenticity, I believe it reverberates into eternity. Our expression of faith and sincerity benefits us and others. The Scripture admonishes us to “give thanks to the LORD for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 106.1)
I have grown accustomed to expressing my gratitude every morning when my feet slide out from beneath the quilt and touch the floor. I say “Thank you Lord!” Why? To express my gratitude to God who has granted me breath and strength because not everyone answered the roll call. If Jesus Christ in His most vulnerable moments extended expression of thanksgiving how much more should we do the same?
If your family is great in numbers or small, give thanks for their presence and yours. During this season of reflection and introspection, let’s allow ourselves to operate intentionally with a spirit of giving thanks and appreciation for the many tangible and intangible blessings that we are granted.
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