Thanksgiving - Jeannie Waters, Writer & Speaker

5 Ways to Enhance the Gratitude Capacity of Your Heart and Give Thanks

November 14, 2023Jeannie Waters25 Comments

My friend Karen planned a Friendsgiving celebration for the residents at the healthcare home where her mother lives. We decorated the tables with tall lanterns filled with tiny lights and red, orange, and yellow silk leaves. Then we added stuffed pumpkins and sprinkled candy at each place. During the celebration, the elderly ladies and gentlemen taught me an important lesson.

After participants had listened to a devotion about friendship and played games, they gathered around the tables to share some of their blessings. Their lists included life, family, friends, good memories, sunny days, chocolate cake, and many more.

When I heard wheelchair-bound nursing home residents express thanks for their blessings, I considered my heart’s gratitude capacity. If they can thank God for their blessings while facing adversity, surely I can, too. Then I wondered how Scripture can help us develop an attitude of gratitude when we experience trials or hear distressing news.

Gratitude fills my heart when I enjoy family gatherings, breath-taking mountain views, and vanilla lattes. But I confess, words of thanksgiving often sputter and stall when I face trials.

Recent trials include a stubborn printer with the nerve to die the night before a speaking engagement, even more stubborn plumbing that required a costly repair days before guests arrived, aggravating back pain, and far worse, a friend’s cancer diagnosis.

The grateful hearts of my new wheelchair-bound friends set a Christlike example for me.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV*

At the conclusion of the activities, we enjoyed ice cream sundaes. The sweet ladies at my table loved the choice of chocolate or caramel syrup and the addition of nuts and cherries. Laughter bubbled from the conversations as we ate.

Then Karen gave each resident a handmade bookmark decorated with fall pictures and a ribbon. She also gave them blank thank you cards and suggested they give the cards to a family member or a facility employee they appreciated.

Miss Maureen, a white-haired saint, grabbed Karen’s hand, pulled her closer, and gave Karen her thank you card. Whispered words brought tears to Karen’s eyes. “Thank you for taking time to bring joy to us. This was such fun. Please come back again.” My misty-eyed friend promised we’d return.

As the sweet residents wheeled from the room, some of them held our hands and told us how much they’d enjoyed the celebration. I suspect our blessings outweighed theirs.

With their kind words echoing in my heart, I pondered the biblical instruction to express thanks in all things. I long to develop an attitude of gratitude—even in challenging times—like I’d observed during the Friendsgiving celebration.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to feel thankful. Instead, it instructs us to give thanks.

Perhaps we should read verses about expressing gratitude daily and ask God to increase our capacity to give thanks—like my new friends modeled for me.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to feel thankful. Instead, it instructs us to give thanks. Share on X

5 Ways to Enhance the Gratitude Capacity of Your Heart and Give Thanks

1. With obedience to God

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-4

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

2. With singing

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Psalm 7:17

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 100:1-2

3. With recognition of His love and peace

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

4. With prayer

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

5. With awareness of who God is and remembrance of His gifts

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:7

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17

The echo of gratitude from my new friends’ words and the verses I found are filling my heart and my words with thanksgiving.

Your Turn

What’s one way to develop a heart of gratitude? How is giving thanks beneficial to our walk with Christ? I look forward to your comments.

*All verses are taken from the ESV.

Another story of gratitude

Click here Gratitude According to Aunt Tommie for a devotion from A Place at His Table: God’s Daily Gifts to Satisfy Your Heart. Marilyn Nutter shared it on her website. You’ll read how my Aunt Tommie shared 6-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola and wise advice about gratitude.

A Place at His Table includes 40 devotions with Table Tips–recipes, easy centerpiece ideas, and celebration suggestions. What a perfect hostess gift!

Available at Amazon & at other places where good books are sold.

Think on These Things

November 25, 2020Jeannie Waters39 Comments

Who’s that singing?

I peered through the glass of the storm door and discovered a little sparrow belting out an aria on the deck.

The sight beyond the sparrow quickly turned my smile into a frown. Thin-stemmed, summer plants drooped over the edges of pots and cried for replacements. The grass, drained of summer’s lush green, imitated a worn, beige carpet.

The typical mid-autumn scene looked drab and colorless—much like how the uptick predictions of coronavirus cases and recent political controversy make me feel.

As I concentrated on the bleak picture, the little feathered songster hopped onto a deck table where a flat of pansies waited to be planted. She cocked her head toward me and chirped loudly as if trying to get my attention. Then she perched on the edge of the plastic plant tray and thrust her beak in and out of the pansies several times.

“You’re not a hummingbird seeking nectar. Why are you poking your beak into the flowers?” I asked her as if she could understand.

The sparrow may be hunting for bugs, but she seems to be pointing to the pansies. Is she directing my attention away from withering drabness to a prettier sight?

Ahh—the pansies. How beautiful they are with dramatic yellow and purple petals and center markings that look like tiny faces.

These fall flowers are so friendly, just like my little visitor.

I’m thankful God used His floral and feathered creations to divert my attention from a negative view to a positive one.

In this world, it’s easy to focus on what’s wrong or scary or frustrating and forget what is right and hopeful and beautiful. This current season is the perfect time to follow the teaching of Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 ESV

I can choose to lament over the wilting plants and brown grass scenarios around me or I can plant my purple and yellow pansies and enjoy the song of the sparrow, knowing each season has a beauty of its own.

I cannot, however, live with my head in the clouds and a permanent grin on my face. Simply employing the tactic of “positive thinking” or looking at the world with a Pollyanna perspective is not what the verse means.

We should keep abreast of the news, take care of our responsibilities, and address life’s challenges. However, when our thought patterns stay riveted on the negative, we drift toward despondency, fear, and anxiety.

How are we to direct our focus?

When we read, study, and share biblical truths with others, we can maintain a perspective of life that pleases God. All of the adjectives in the verse are illustrated in the Bible. The more we study His Word, the easier it is to view the world—the good and the bad—through the lens of Scripture.

How can we take care of daily responsibilities while concentrating on “these things” mentioned in Philippians 4:8? Here are a few suggestions.

Five Ways to “Think on What is Lovely” As We Acknowledge Life’s Realities

After watching the news, why not pray for our leaders as you take a brisk walk to look for bright red berries or golden leaves.
When you’re walking to your car, notice the way an oak leaf twirls to the ground or the way a squirrel hides treasured acorns. Thank God for His provisions during all seasons and ask for His wisdom to manage concerns.
List the adjectives in Philippians 4:8 and note examples of each during the week. Find Bible verses that align with each one.
Cut small branches from a pine or cedar tree and put them in a vase of water. Inhale the woodland scent and thank God for His strength and His creation that surround us.
Notice different varieties and colors of pansies. List the unique ways God gifts His people to serve others throughout the seasons. Ask Him to guide you to His plans for your gifts.

Let’s allow the sparrows of life to point us to the pansies and allow God’s Word to guide our thinking and our choices as we thank Him for our blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader friends. How do you maintain a biblical perspective on life in this season?

What’s Hindering Your Gratitude?

November 26, 2019Jeannie Waters12 Comments

Do you buy event or travel tickets early to ensure the best view? Some concert attendees select seating close to the stage, and many frequent fliers prefer a window seat glimpse of the clouds.

Years ago, at a rainy college football game, I appreciated the no-umbrellas-in-the-stadium rule because I preferred getting drenched in my poncho rather than having an obstructed view.

The way we face life’s circumstances can distort our view of God’s blessings and hinder our gratitude. It’s like watching a stage play from the last row of a large theater. Thankfulness can slip from the fingers of our heart when we fail to concentrate on blessings.

In our area, autumn beauty arrived later than usual this year. Due to limited summer rainfall, some of the leaves turned crispy brown and fell early. This week, however, God’s pre-winter palette commands center stage and calls for front row seats.

I read about the scarlet reds and fire-bright golds but had I not looked for myself, I would have missed the splendor. Forgetting God’s blessings is like closing my window blinds and only imagining our Bradford pear with its Christmas-tree-like color sparkling in the sun.

One morning I looked out of partially opened blinds and saw only a couple of limbs on our pear tree bedecked with leaves of orange and yellow.

Peering through the slats in the blinds is like being somewhat grateful but not fully experiencing and expressing our gratitude to God—possibly because we are comparing our blessings to those of others or harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts.

Like the slats in the blinds, those sinful attitudes thwart awareness of the ways God works in our lives. Conversely, turning our focus to Him and His blessings generates a heart of thanksgiving.

When I fully opened the blinds, I saw more limbs of the almost thirty-year-old tree and noticed brilliant sunlight filtering through the branches. As the blinds obscured less of my view, I saw more of the beautiful tree as well as additional colors.

Yesterday, I claimed a front-row “seat” by walking around the magnificent pear tree, a gift from my dad who now gazes at heaven’s grandeur.

With nothing blocking my view, I saw leaves tinged in coral and others wearing a deep purple hue. I noticed the strong trunk that supports the limbs and the tiny golden-brown berries clinging to small branches.

Like you, I want to enjoy God’s blessings with unhindered eyes, recognizing His provision and remembering His goodness. I want my heart to be filled with gratitude and overflowing with praise this week and every week.

What hinders our gratitude? Busyness at this time of year can sidetrack our intent to give thanks, even on a day designed for enumerating our blessings.

That, dear friends, would mean we (including me) are too busy. Instead of saying, “Stop and smell the roses,” perhaps we should say, “Stop and take a walk or drive to see seasonal beauty and thank God for His creation and provision.”

Other hindrances to gratitude are sinful attitudes that blur our vision of God’s kindness. Let’s ask Him to forgive bitterness, envy, resentment, or any other sinful thoughts that may be lurking under the surface of our smiles (1 John 1:9).

Rather than scrutinizing the bounty of others, let’s thank our heavenly Father for His generosity as we develop a heart of contentment.

Now we’re ready to look through open blinds and take a walk as we ponder God’s goodness to us. Here are some ways to make Thanksgiving a season of gratitude:

Thank Him for His greatest blessing, the gift of salvation. Jesus died on the cross that we could have forgiveness, fellowship with Him now, and eternal life (John 3:16).

Pray the words of the psalmist who understood the value of praising God for Who He is and His gifts.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:3

Look for blessings that you might ignore on other days. How many can you list today? Try writing some down or creating tally marks as you thank God for them.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118:1

Before we gather with friends and family, let’s grab a window seat or a chair on the front row to ensure we grasp the fullness of God’s blessings.

How are you focusing on gratitude this week? Please share your thoughts below.

Have a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude!

When Thanksgiving’s Not the Same: Three Ways to Recover Gratitude

November 20, 2018Jeannie Waters24 Comments

Ungrateful. Unsettled. Unexcited. I’m sorry to admit that was the state of my heart when I first contemplated Thanksgiving this year. My gratitude journal reflected numerous blessings, but the thought of another holiday without my mother saddened me.

Mama was the heart of festivities for every holiday gathering. She created traditions that made Thanksgiving my favorite day of the year–decorations and flower arrangements, prayer in a circle with family holding hands, croquet games after lunch, Monopoly after supper. What I miss most is being loved by her and hugging her.

Oh, the Thanksgiving meal– the world’s best dressing, steamed cauliflower with cheese sauce, turkey, rice with giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, tiny green peas, green bean casserole, apple salad, and rolls.

Supper was my favorite though–turkey sandwiches with lettuce, light mayo, salt and pepper, and a bit of sweet pickles. Sides included chips, congealed salad, and ambrosia, followed by numerous desserts served with coffee and laughter.

As I reflected on the Thanksgiving celebration I couldn’t enjoy this year, I chose to do what my parents did. I turned to the Lord and counted my blessings.

Are holidays difficult for you? Do you lament the unwelcome changes like I sometimes do? There are many reasons special occasions are painful. Tonight, I prayed for a friend who lost her husband this week and the family of a wayward teen who recently left home. Holiday celebrations seem to sharpen the pain of hurting hearts, don’t they?

When I turned to God last week, He renewed my heart, helped me recover my gratitude, and created an excitement for this special day set aside for giving thanks. Although I’m not suffering as many are this week, I have three suggestions to help us enjoy a Thanksgiving that is “not the same.”

No, it’s not as simple as 1, 2, 3, and I’m not pretending my words could heal your heart or renew your holiday joy. However, God can transform our Ungrateful, Unsettled, and Unexcited into Grateful, Peaceful, and Joyous.

Three Ways to Recover Gratitude

1. Reflect on past joys.

Ponder sweet memories of past Thanksgivings. Write them in a journal to treasure.

If tears come, cry.

My mom spent her last Thanksgiving in bed. As my brother’s poodle trotted from her bedside to the table wondering why Mema had not joined us, my heart broke.

If funny happenings come to mind, laugh.

One year my mother used a disposable pan for the dressing. When she removed it from the oven, some of the “took-a-whole-day-to-make” delicacy flipped out onto the floor. My normally meticulous mother quickly scooped it up with a spoon, returned it to the pan, and said, “It’s okay; I just mopped this floor. But don’t tell anyone!” I never told—until now. Shhhhh!

2. Remember to “brighten someone’s day.”

That’s the tagline for my website because encouraging people toward the truths of God’s Word offers hope and comfort. Who in your circle of influence needs those blessings?

Is this the first Thanksgiving without a loved one for someone you know? How could you add sunshine to their day?
Can you call someone to say thank you for their influence in your life?
Is there a busy cook who would appreciate a helping hand and acknowledgment of hard work?
Would a restless child in a room full of relatives enjoy taking a walk or playing a game?
Does someone you know need to hear that Jesus offers forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life?

Brightening someone’s day will pierce your cloud with sunshine.

3. Rejoice in thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all gifts (James 1:17).

Listing our blessings changes our focus from need to gratitude. A two-year-old I know recently called, “Tank you,” to each nurse, doctor, and tech who administered care to her in the ER. Simple gratitude.

I’m praying for each reader that whether you’re experiencing grief, pain, or frustration, God will fill your hearts with joy and help you recover gratitude as you look to Him.

Now it’s your turn

Please share a Thanksgiving memory or a suggestion that helped you when holidays changed.

If you choose to leave a comment about your need, it will be my privilege to pray for you.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.

–Psalm 92:1 ESV