DO Give Thanks!

Series: Life is Good

Scripture: Chronicles 16:34 ESV

When I was very small, I was taught to say thank you for everything. I wasn’t even sure what saying thank you really meant. But I said it because I would get in trouble if I didn’t.

As I grew older, I came to understand that saying thank you was something we did in my family. There were times I did not feel thankful. As I grew older, I came to realize thankful was not just something you say because you’re supposed to say it.

I read my Bible because my dad read his Bible and so I thought it was something I should do. I started noticing when I read the psalms, the word thank you or thankful showed up a lot.

Today, if I had the opportunity to tell a young couple, who had a baby to, ‘let your child see you read scripture. They will come to understand that because you read it it’s important.’

I would tell them to read thankful psalms to them even in the crib.

I would say, let scripture be a prayer before they go to bed. Reading scripture, especially the same scripture will become ‘part’ of them.

In 1 Chronicles 16:34 we are told, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Being thankful is an age old tradition found throughout scripture.

Scripture is Holy and set apart from other writings because it is inspired by God. In scripture we are told over and over again to give thanks.

It turns out that is no accident.

According to The American Brain Foundation, “Gratitude triggers the brain’s reward system, releasing hormones and neurotransmitters that have tangible physical and mental health benefits. Taking the time to focus on gratitude every day helps to improve our ability to manage stress, and it helps us develop a more positive perspective on life by restructuring neural signaling pathways.”

When I was small and even when my children were small we did not know the physical and mental benefits of giving thanks.

Fortunately I was raised in a culture where we were taught to say thank you and be thankful for every good thing.

Because I was taught to say and be thankful, my children were taught to say thanks. Now, my grandchildren say thank-you.

I didn’t know that gratitude has physical and mental health benefits until I went to Seminary later in life. I actually laughed when I read lessons on the benefits of being thankful.

Now I remind my aging ailing Mother to be thankful so her brain will receive the benefits of being thankful.

Today…be thankful.

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com