“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
Our staff are deeply grateful for the blessing and privilege of teaching and discipling children of PPA. Out of gratitude for God’s generosity to us, we strive to use all our resources—our time, energy, funds, and abilities—to further the Kingdom of God through the children entrusted to our care. This month, our students have been focused on gratitude; however, we want to emphasize not only what they are grateful for, but also the actions and attitudes that should flow from their gratitude.
Gratitude begins by recognizing that we are created in God’s image, and every breath we breathe is a gift from the Lord. Everything we are and everything we have comes from Him: our families, our friends, and our resources. Most importantly, we must be deeply grateful for Jesus Christ – His life, death, and resurrection – who has offered us salvation, so that we may spend eternity with Him.
Ways to Grow in Gratitude
Committing to grow in gratitude is an honorable and transformative pursuit. We must be intentional about reminding ourselves of the many ways God has provided for and blessed us while also shifting our mindset away from complaint and toward contentment. When we act out of gratitude, our perspective shifts, and we are moved to live in ways that more closely resemble Christ and His will for us.
On days when rest is fleeting, thank God for the few quiet moments between meetings or lessons. When dishes pile up and kids are running through the house after dinner, thank God for the home you have, the meal you enjoyed, and the memories being made in that safe, joy-filled space. What a privilege it is to care for our families and the homes He has given us!
Gratitude that Fuels Generosity
Gratitude not only influences our perspective on life and those around us, but it also challenges us to find ways that we can bless others, opening the door to generosity. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says where our hearts are, our treasure will be also. While money is important, generosity as a way of life goes well beyond financial giving. We can be generous with our time, our talents, and our treasures. For example, when we are grateful for our families, we become more inclined to be generous with our time and intentionality with them.
One of the names of God that comes from Genesis 22 is Jehovah-Jireh, which means “The Lord will provide.” The Christian life is marked by this belief: God is the one sustaining and providing for us consistently and completely. Therefore, if you believe your life is abundant and God is enough, then you’ll believe you can afford to be generous to others. If you trust that God is authoring your life everyday, you’ll be excited to come alongside and support others as He writes their stories too. Gratitude and generosity coexist in a beautiful and undeniable way. These two virtues are the pure and honest response to lives that overflow with God’s love for his creation.
A Season of Thanksgiving
As we are celebrating Thanksgiving, and preparing for the bustling holiday season, remember to be grateful for the ways in which God has worked in your life this year, and allow that gratitude to bear the fruit of generosity to those around you. May Ephesians 5:20 guide your heart this season:
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We pray that you and your families enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving, celebrating all Jesus has done!
