Tucked away in a pile of ideas to write about someday I came across this quote: “If gratitude leads to joy, joy is never out of reach!” I searched and could not find the source or the author. While those aren’t my words, they seem like an appropriate place to start writing on the day before Thanksgiving.
From my experience, gratitude always leads to a good place. It melts my heart to hear a little two-year old voice say, “Thank you.” I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t appreciate receiving a thank you note. Gratitude makes you feel noticed. Gratitude leads to generosity for it usually reminds us that we have more than we need. And the gratitude of one healed leper led him to the feet of Jesus.
So what about joy? Would you agree that joy is different than happiness? I think so. I think happiness is a moment, while joy persists. Happiness comes and goes, depending on the circumstances, while joy is independent of what is going on around you. Happiness is an emotion, while joy is independent of your feelings.
Perhaps joy is a gift. We know it’s a fruit of the Spirit. We know Jesus left it behind for his disciples. We’re filled with it in God’s presence. There is joy in heaven. Nature expresses joy. John the Baptist leaps for joy in utero.
And that brings us back to thanksgiving. Or Thanksgiving. Why do we do this? Why do we feast like no other time of the year? Why do we travel to gather with family? Why do children dress up like pilgrims and native Americans for school programs? Why are front yards in my neighborhood lit up with inflatable turkeys or a wiener dog wearing a pilgrim hat?
Somewhere deep down, we know we need Thanksgiving. We need to express our gratitude, because it leads us to an elusive joy. A joy we can only find when we give thanks to the Lord whose steadfast love endures forever.
Waite for it... 