Thank You

           I learned an important lesson from Kelsea Ballerini, and it wasn’t that I miss me more. For those of you wrinkling your brow, Kelsea Ballerini is a country music singer and her tour and one of her songs is called Miss Me More.  We took my daughter and a couple of her friends to the concert for her 15^th birthday. During the concert, the words, “Thank You,” appeared in bright, bold letters over the backstage wall, and Kelsea thanked the audience for their support. I’m sure this happens at a lot of concerts, but it struck me that although it is a such a simple thing, really just two small words, we don’t do it nearly enough or say it with enough enthusiasm. We have so much to be thankful for, and for me, I want to say thank you to all of the people who have supported me not only on this writing journey but also in my life.

Last week, I needed six more followers on my Facebook author page to reach 500, but y’all, my friends blew that goal by over fifty in less than twenty-four hours. My agent figured out that in one year, the subscribers to this website increased by over 1400 percent. (Y’all know I don’t do math.) Wow! I am so thankful for each one of you. God has blessed me with you, and I hope I can be a blessing to you, even if it’s just a sweet story that makes you smile.

So often, we take for granted God’s blessings, even see them as burdens, but we are called to do everything, whether in word or deed in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:17) How often do you pause and thank God for the work he has assigned to you? When we focus on being thankful, our perspective will be transformed. We will find blessings in the mundane and the routine. When we take account of all of our blessings, our frustrations lose their hold on us. We may even learn to be thankful for setbacks and struggles.

Last summer, I got the results of a writing contest that I lost. For whatever reason, this loss hit me hard and made me doubt my future as a writer. In an effort to get perspective, I spoke all of the things I had to be thankful for as I drove carpool and completed chores. Somewhere in one of those rides in the car, the Contemporary Christian radio station I was listening gave the verse of the day.  It was Phillipians1:6. “Be confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it onto completion.” There it was—a little whisper from God, and I said a big thank you.

With gratitude comes an understanding of God’s blessings and how He is faithful to His promises. Our hearts can seek to follow His truths knowing He will faithfully lead us.

Gratitude is a game changer. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” (2 Thes. 1:3)

Imagine how much better the world would be if we saw the people in our lives as gifts from God, even the ones that frustrate you. At least if we’re searching for reasons to be thankful, we won’t be grumbling. Your words of thanksgiving could be the very thing that encourages someone else. Don’t let us miss an opportunity to tell someone thank you. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be THANKFUL.” (Col. 3:15)

Who are you thankful for? Why? What amazing person has blessed you with something that makes you want to exclaim thanks in bright, bold letters?

I’d love to hear from you. Be sure you are subscribed to my website and comment on this post, and you will be entered in a giveaway for three books. (Still Waters by Lindsey Brackett, The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck, and The One True Love of Alice-Ann by Eva Marie Everson.) Giveaway limited to USA.