Intentional Thanks
Do we even get it?
Ok, this is my very first post here. Please be patient, as I find my way.
Last week while reading near the end of 2 Corinthians I came across a verse with a question from a very modern translation of the New Testament. I was taken aback so by the verse, that I never wrote down exactly WHERE it was located. The verse took hold of me and I was all turned around for a moment…
The verse was a life-changing question. “What do you have that Grace has not given you?” My heart groaned and my mind raced surveying the landscape of blessings and opportunities. I stopped at the Love that I’ve received. The profound forgiveness I know has been given to me. The family, friendships, job and life I live. I am beyond blessed…and what came to my mind, directly from my heart was real Thanks. Not a mimicked “hey, thanks!” No this was well beyond that, it’s like I took a knee and simply agreed.
It came from the Holy Spirit, not a cultural trend in Gratitude or a practice of Mindfulness. Yes it’s in a book, but it’s more about how it popped out. It’s more about the “touch” on it.
It grabbed me so deeply, I felt my heart go mushy, and my knees weaken just a tad.
It draws me in, like a warm blanket, surrounding me. A cozy question that seems to have life…I am so blessed, and I cannot help but lift my chin, smile into the sky and whisper, “Thank you, I just GIVE you thanks.”
For over 3 years I have intentionally slowed my inner life and Spirit way down. I can pause, pull over, sit a spell and ponder. I have encountered the awareness of being blessed, and filled with gratefulness that leads to GIVING thanks. You know where you steady yourself, look directly into their eyes and say, “Thank you, I really mean it.”
It’s not an accident, I truly stopped to say it. It’s not just popped out by rote, “hey thanks for that” like “catch you later, let’s do lunch!” No it’s become a PAUSE OF INTENTION…It’s like hugging the question over and over, saying “thank you,” over and over “for asking”…Nope, not an accident.