Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness

More times than not, we tend to forget how much joy comes from a true spirit of thankfulness. It is like sowing seeds in rich soil that bear such life-sustaining fruit. But being thankful can become perfunctory. Or shallow. Like seeds tossed upon barren soil. It is expected. It’s the way we are supposed to feel, so therefore we say, “I’m thankful.” True thankfulness, a total surrender to the emotions of overwhelming gratefulness, is something different. It takes more time. And practice. And toil. And perseverance. And patience. But when experienced, authentic thankfulness indeed is like a seed, dying in a way, yet coming alive and digging its root deep into fertile soil. The fruit…joy? Yes. But also peace and contentment. True, authentic thankfulness throughout every day, truly feeling the blessings of life, is like a silo or a grain bin filled to the brim. It indeed does sustain life in the barren seasons. This joy, this peace. The barren seasons do come. The droughts of our life, the famines, the storms that want to rob us of that joy. Rob us of that peace. Sometimes life is picking fruit, and sometimes life is plowing in the hot sun. But true thankfulness sustains us. Thankfulness is God’s gift to us. We just have to plant the seed. Nurture the seed. Then God enables us to bask in the beautiful autumn sun and enjoy the fruit. His joy.

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Happy Thanksgiving