Thanksgiving: Overflowing with Gratitude

A meditation from Glory in Disguise: Seeing God in our Every Day.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith,
just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. 
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB

Years ago, I taught writing to adult GED students.  Every Wednesday, we would do an exercise together as a class to practice writing a five-paragraph essay. As the end of November approached, I chose the topic of Thanksgiving.  I thought that in this age of “entitlement” it might be a double “win” for the students to count their blessings and practice their writing.

So to prepare for my lesson, I sent out an email to gather quotes about being thankful from friends and colleagues.  I received some great ones.

Some were fun:

What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?”   (Erma Bombeck)

May your stuffing be tasty.
May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
And may your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner,
Stay off your thighs!
(Anonymous)

 Others were really profound:

Gratitude is the least of the virtues, but ingratitude is the worst of the vices.
(Thomas Fuller)

The pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts…nevertheless, they set aside a day of thanksgiving. 
(H.W.Westermayer)

 A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the others.
(Cicero)

My favorite:

It’s not the happy person who is thankful but the thankful person who is happy. (Anonymous)

As always, God’s Word takes the prize for the most sublime quote on being thankful.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB (emphasis added)

How I love that final phrase, overflowing with gratitude. How picturesque.  

What does it mean to overflow? It makes me think of a story my husband John tells about growing up in Arizona near a reservoir, Roosevelt Dam. When it rained too much or the snows in the mountains began to melt, the water flowed over the edge of the dam.  John remembers what an event it was for him as a child when the dam spilled over. It was a wonder to behold. And that’s what this word in the original language means, “to be in excess, to have more than enough, to super-abound -- to overflow.”

And what is gratitude?
It’s an “emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thanksgiving.” (Webster, 1828).

After all, “what do you have that you did not receive?” (See 1 Corinthians 4:7).

The original word in Greek is “eucharistia.” In Christian liturgical traditions,

“Eucharist” is used in modern language for Holy Communion, embodying the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest gift from God, the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies.   

In fact, Jesus Himself gave thanks to the Father as He broke the bread and blessed the cup at the Last Supper with His disciples.  He acknowledged His Father as the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17). And this ordinance or in some traditions, “sacrament,” of the church is often referred to as the “Holy Eucharist.”

So let us also, dear brothers and sisters, be a people overflowing with gratitude, always, every day of our lives. After all, what do we have, that we have not received from the Gift-giver Himself?

Thankful
How many ways can we thank You, Dear One
For all that we have and for all You have done?

You’ve given us life
And sustained us each day.

Our hearts and our minds
Bow to You as we pray.

You are our shelter
Through every storm.

You hold us close
In Your arms, safe and warm.

With hearts full of worship 
We offer You praise.

With love and Thanksgiving
All of our days!
Penny Mandeville

Prayer
Lord God, Giver of every gift, I confess my blindness to your goodnesses, big and small. Open my eyes and move my heart to overflowing gratitude in everything You send my way.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Reflections
1. What 5 things can you thank God for right now? In your journal, list them. Then chose one of the 5 and list 5 more related to that one. Keep going if you’d like … and never stop listing.

2. Do this Bible study exercise:  Read through the book of Colossians and find at least one verse in each chapter about giving thanks. Be sure to read the context to get the complete message.

3. Have a time of family or personal communion, thanking the Father for the gift of His precious Son.

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Poet Penny mandeville & author jan loyd