A Season of Gratitude

I don’t know what you are facing this Thanksgiving but whatever it is … I can guarantee you that a heaping portion of gratitude is just what you need to fill your heart. 

Isn’t it interesting that we “feel” the least like giving thanks when life is a war zone around us? 

Isn’t it compelling to realize when life is at its worst that we perceive we have nothing for which to be grateful?

Isn’t it fascinating to observe that the circumstances of life can move our hearts from being grateful to being frustrated?

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” – Psalm 50:14

I have been through many difficult holiday seasons in my life.

The first baby that I lost went to heaven on December 7, 1986.

By the next Thanksgiving, I had lost two more babies.

The next few years were filled with dark, pervasive depression as well as the reality of yet two more pregnancies that ended too early.

During that decade of loss, grief and sadness, my heart didn’t “feel” like being thankful but I coerced my mouth into cooperating.

I made myself write lists of the things for which I was grateful.

I forced myself into singing worship songs of highest praise.

“That I may proclaim with a voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.” – Psalm 26:7

I pressed myself into hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner and encouraging everyone in attendance to join in my discipline of gratitude. 

While others were eating my grandmother’s cranberry relish and pumpkin pie … I was filled to overflowing with delicious songs of praise.

Choosing to be grateful in spite of my circumstances brought miraculous peace to that place in me that had been devastated by loss.

Gratitude healed my broken heart.

It was just what the Great Physician had ordered!

“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.” -  Psalm 50:23a

The next few decades passed quickly by in a fog of happiness and a growing family. I treasured those years but that was not the end of my story. 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early November 2014. 

I had not planned on spending the next two months in operating rooms … doctor’s offices … testing facilities … or hospitals. But that’s where I landed … smack dab in the middle of pain and disease.

I was constrained to spend the most wonderful time of the year in the most difficult of places. 

I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.” – Psalm 69:30

On New Year’s Day 2015, I wasn’t sure that I would live to see the year to its completion.

But I did.

However, as I look back, I can tell you that the year that I was battling my arch-enemy named “cancer” was one of my favorite holidays seasons of all!

How can that be?!

It’s because His presence was rich and real and purposeful.

“In His presence is fullness of joy – at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11

I was not dependent upon evergreen, cookies and bedecked mantles to bring joy to my world … I had Him and I discovered He was all that I needed!

The Baby in the manger was the Lord of my heart.  He had entered my world triumphantly and with Him He had brought heaven’s joy.

Joy triumphed over pain.

When joy goes head to head with pain … joy wins!  

All the time. Every time.

And so … again … I don’t know what you are facing this year as you prepare for Thanksgiving but I can tell you that there is no human disappointment that is able to take away your right to reveal a heart of gratitude.

There is no circumstance that should mute your song of praise.

There is no loss that should deny you of the privilege of lifting your hands in sincere thanksgiving. 

When we worship Him in spite of discouragement we are worshipping the Giver and not the gifts.

When we enter the holidays stripped bare of all of the cultural niceties we can truly celebrate the heart of Christmas rather than the trappings of the season.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” – Psalm 95:2

If you are lonely this year – you have Him and He is enough.

If you are disappointed this year – you have hope and His hope never disappoints.

If you are in pain this year – He is the One who can heal your pain.

If you have a broken heart – He is near to you.

“Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of His works with joyful singing.” – Psalm 107:22

Thanks for listening to my heart this week.  As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me.  And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!