How to Give Thanks Throughout This One Life

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

It may be that Paul was out of words at the time he wrote this line in his letter to friends in Corinth. I can almost imagine his fingers splayed across his concerned forehead when he finally gave in to ‘indescribable’. But it didn’t stop him from giving thanks.

I never want to stop, either.

I want to thank Him for settling my soul when wildfires rage so close it’s hard to breath.

I want to thank Him for offering me a life that’s blessed here and a life that’s eternal up there.

I want to thank Him for holding my heart when it’s split open and offering me the chance to glorify Him even in that moment.

I want to thank Him for being able to see the tired fall finally get to slumber and being able to recognize the smell of the coming winter in the air.

I want to thank Him for sticky chairs, scattered buttons, and mountains of laundry because it’s living proof my greatest wish came true. That there are kids tucked into quilts, snug and warm under this old farm roof.

I want to thank Him for love that never fails from a husband who sometimes does, but who reaches across bedsheets to ask forgiveness and cradles me close until we both fall asleep.

I want to thank Him for the gift of knowing how to hold the hand of three humans whose fingers are so small they barely cover my fingernail.

I want to thank Him for the foggy framed memory of walking up to a new born baby in a hospital bassinet and being able to study the face of my new son, given as a gift from another Mama leaving the hospital without him.

I want to thank Him for seeing someone worth giving four of His unique creations to to raise. That He trusts me that much, because, Lord knows, I’ve done nothing to deserve them.

I want to thank Him for offering an awkward girl a place of belonging.

I want to thank Him for helping me find my voice in a noisy world where I can finally proclaim as boldly as Oswald Chambers did when he wrote, “In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.” and feel it in my bones.

I want to thank Him for His words in red that call me ‘blessed’ and ‘redeemed’, that name me ‘daughter’ and ‘believer’.