I Thess. 5:16-18 (NLT) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

NASB Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Thanks = be grateful, feel thankful.

Talking about practicing thankfulness feels kind of well, silly, to me. I don’t know why. I blame the fad Oprah (I think) started when I was growing up. Suddenly “Gratitude Journals” abounded & everywhere I went people were recommending that you write down something you are thankful for every day before you went to sleep. Now, here’s the thing: Oprah—or whoever—was absolutely correct. Thankfulness is an important value to cultivate and practice! The Bible even commands it (see above). I think, along with my own orneriness, I was reacting to the idea that thankfulness is somehow a stepping stone to more. I don’t think anyone intentionally taught this. But, somehow I would hear people talking about thankfulness along these lines: Once you learn how to be content & thankful for where you are / what you have then you will be “promoted” into more. As though fate was just waiting for you to begin using those gratitude journals & suddenly you would become rich / famous / loved / powerful, etc. Again, I don’t think this was intentional. But, it left a distaste in me all the same. The truth is that thankfulness isn’t a key to promotion. It isn’t something to be manipulated in order for you to get your way. However, it will change your life. The reason thankfulness will change your life is because it will change you. For example:

A day doesn’t go by when I am not thankful for my family. Truly. Here’s why: My family is an unexpected, hard “earned” (for lack of a better word), amazing, better than I could or would have planned, blessing.

See, I didn’t think I wanted to have children. My becoming a mom started as I walked in obedience to the Lord—with much fear & reluctance. And the result was that I discovered motherhood to be a greater blessing than I ever could have imagined. I discovered parts of myself I never knew. I grew intimately connected with the Lord. And, of course, I ended up with these amazing people! My journey hasn’t been easy—there have been many losses & much heartbreak along the way. Yet, the Lord’s goodness has not only sustained me but been my glory each step of the way. So when I say my children are a gift, I mean it in the very core of my being. This deep & abiding thankfulness has added such a joy to my days. And nights. Because of this heart attitude, being up in the night with my youngest (far after she “should” have been sleeping through the night) had a sacred element to it, my heart looking at her & nearly bursting with thankfulness that the Lord had given her to us. And it isn’t just that. I could go on and on with examples, but you get the point. It isn’t that I never have my “moments”. We all do. But, I can say with 100% confidence that the thankfulness I have in my heart has elevated my experience, my home, and my relationships more than can be calculated.

The same is true of my marriage. I am well aware that Jamey & I almost didn’t make it to this point. I not only can’t imagine my life without him, but the thankfulness that I have for him and our marriage brings so much joy & life into our relationship. It also creates such a confidence in the Lord, in His ways, & His provision. I am also filled with such great anticipation of hope & confidence in our future! But this isn’t just because things are good now. I learned thankfulness in the midst of the worst times. It felt like the world was falling apart around me and yet—God. He was with me. He sustained me. He forgave me & gave abundant mercy. He offered hope & promises for the future. He faithfully loved me & Jamey both. I will never get over His great kindness towards me! And, really, that’s what thankfulness is. It is an awareness of God’s goodness. Always. That He is faithful & trustworthy & ever so good.

So, my self-care tip today is to practice thankfulness. Do it in a gratitude journal. Do it in your prayers. Do it in creative or simple ways. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you do it in your heart. Don’t practice thankfulness hoping life will change. Maybe it will. But, it won’t matter, because you will change. And once that happens? Well, you will find that perhaps your life was already everything you needed & even more.