“Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude. Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just in the moments we set aside for worship or spiritual disciplines. Not just in the moments when life seems easy.”- Henri Nouwen
When our family sits down to eat, I often notice my kids give tremendous attention to keeping the foods on their plates separate. The chicken can’t touch the pasta. The peppers can’t touch the strawberries.
And sacrilegiously, the ice cream must certainly not touch the brownie for one of them.
I’ve noticed, in myself and others, a similar tendency when it comes to our grown-up lives. The worship can’t touch the work. The professional can’t touch the personal. The grief can’t touch the celebratory.
But as I grow older, it seems that life is so much richer when we allow the various parts of it, both jarring and joyful, to coexist, maybe even to hold hands. This is especially true around the holiday season. When we not only allow but pursue gratitude in the face of difficulty or grief, God meets us there, our faith can be deepened, and our capacity to minister to others hurting grows.
“…it seems that life is so much richer when we allow the various parts of it, both jarring and joyful, to coexist, maybe even to hold hands.”
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul reminds his audience to “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This holiday season, my challenge is for you to take the words of Paul seriously and to allow gratitude to saturate all of the circumstances of your life, trusting that as you do, He will meet you there with grace.
Ben Rotz serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Development at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. He is a certified StrengthsFinder coach, guiding students through OKWU’s PATH Coaching program to discover their unique strengths and prepare for a Christ-centered life of servant leadership. Learn more: OKWU PATH Coaching.
