Spontaneous, Grateful Thanksgiving!

Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. Hope reaches others because of you. Thank you!

In one of his commentaries on Romans, pastor and scholar Eugene Peterson writes about the way the Apostle Paul opens his letter. In verse 8, Paul begins, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you…” Peterson makes the following observations:

“Paul, mature in all matters of spiritual formation, begins, as life itself begins, with gratitude for lives placed in his care. Life in itself – sheer, raw, unadorned life – is a pure gift. Spontaneous, grateful thanksgiving establishes the working conditions for all growth and development in Christ.”

I love that! “Spontaneous, grateful thanksgiving!

If you paused and reflected for a moment right now, I wonder what spontaneous thanksgiving would arise in you. I don’t know about you, but too often in life, I get caught up in the worries and demands of the day, and I fail to reflect on all of my blessings. Yet, I believe that Peterson has it right – our gratitude lays the foundation for a life of deep and meaningful faith.

Today may you and I make a point of allowing our gratitude to flow. And may we share it with those who’s lives depend on our love and care.

Let us pray: This is a day that you have made, O God, and we rejoice and are glad in it! In the few seconds of silence that follow, hear us as we offer our silent prayers of gratitude…. You have blessed us so richly, Lord. Thank you! Amen.