The Gift of Gratitude with Guest Writer Jeannie Waters

I’m  thrilled today to share writing from my dear friend and prayer partner, Jeannie Waters. We connected through writing for Lighthouse Bible studies and Jeannie offers encouragement like no other. The release of her book. A Place at His Table: God’s Daily Gifts to Satisfy Your Heart, was a best seller on Amazon. Here is a sample devotion from her book.  Scroll to read more about Jeannie, and order a copies for yourself and gifts, but first, read and enjoy, 

While we sat around Aunt Tommie’s pedestal oak table and sipped Coca-Colas, I grasped for every word of wisdom my eighty-five-year-old aunt shared.

“I don’t understand why some old folks complain about people not coming to see them. They should find a hobby and be thankful for their blessings. Who wants to visit a whiny, old grouch? Why, I have plenty to keep myself busy. I call my friends, watch Atlanta Braves baseball, and paint a bit. And learning how to use my new laptop takes time. Not that I don’t enjoy your visits, you understand. Come anytime you can.”

My feisty aunt never whined. She made the best of each situation. When health issues reduced mobility, she watched more baseball on TV or invited her neighbor to visit. When cooking became difficult, she enrolled in a food delivery program and raved about the meals. The closest she came to a complaint was, “Some days lunch is tastier than others, but they bring a nice sandwich and a piece of fruit for supper.”

Aunt Tommie expressed her opinions readily. “You choose to be thankful, or you choose to complain. We have too many blessings to complain about petty things.”

That’s how she saw it—as a simple choice.

Like my aunt’s perspective, we have the same choice. When we read the Bible, we can choose to obey, or we can ignore what God teaches us. Two verses remind me to turn from complaining and thank Him. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” All things. Sounds like Aunt Tommie. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

All circumstances.

When I visited Aunt Tommie, I patterned my speech after hers. I shared positive news or stayed quiet and listened because I wanted to get as much wisdom from this precious woman as I could in our time together.

The more time we spend with our heavenly Father and His Word, the more we learn from Him and want to please Him with our words. We want to imitate His character. Sometimes I find it hard to keep complaints to myself, like when other people’s actions annoy me or the weather is too hot or cold to suit me. Sometimes I’m tempted to talk more and listen less. I often pray, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3). Maybe Aunt Tommie prayed the same verse.

I’m thankful that when God tells us to do something, He enables us. By placing hearty portions of blessings on the table every day, paired with the wisdom and guidance of His Word, our loving Father equips us to honor Him with gratitude. He enables us to avoid the temptation to complain. Gratitude is an act of obedience and praise to the Giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). He gives believers the joy and privilege to express thanks to Him and influence others to be thankful too.

When God gives us a desire to break the complaint habit and develop a grateful heart, we can ask Him to forgive us and help us replace grumbling with thanksgiving. We can memorize Bible verses about praising God and avoiding complaints to help us remember. We can count our blessings like Aunt Tommie did and be grateful for what we have, not complain about what we think is missing.

The blessings on God’s table lead us to honor Him with our thanks. We don’t have to wait until November to start our gratitude list. We can begin today.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

LET’S PRAY   Heavenly Father, thank You for providing blessings that lead to praise and thanksgiving. Guard my lips against the temptation to complain and lead me to notice and appreciate Your blessings throughout each day. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

EMBRACING THE GIFT   When you’re tempted to complain, stop and thank God for one of His many blessings. Ask a friend or family member to serve as an accountability partner for your speech and attitudes. Tell this person you want to thank God for His blessings and refrain from complaints. Choose Bible verses the two of you can read and memorize. The Holy Spirit will flash truth like caution lights to direct us away from ingratitude and toward thanksgiving.

SHARING THE GIFT   Write a list of people who have blessed you by their encouragement, faithful service, or their walk with Christ. Compose a note or an email to a few of them. Thank them for the difference they’ve made in your life and thank God for them. You may want to include someone who serves at your church or in a local business or medical office. When we express appreciation on a regular basis, we develop the habit of gratitude.

TABLE TIP  Gratitude Day

Choose a monthly gratitude day. Thank God for the blessings of family and friends. Write a thank you note to either place beside someone’s plate, tuck into a lunchbox, or drop in the mail. Include a trait you appreciate. The recipient will smile with gratitude.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”—William Arthur Ward

William Arthur Ward, Goodreads, Goodreads, Inc., 2023, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/421800-gratitude-can-transform-common-days-into-thanksgivings-turn-routine-jobs, accessed February 12, 2023.

Southern author, speaker, and blogger, Jeannie Waters shares a homespun mix of biblical truth and heart-hugging encouragement. An award-winning writer, she’s the author of a 40-day devotional, A Place at His Table: God’s Daily Gifts to Satisfy Your Heart. Jeannie encourages readers and those she meets: “Instead of allowing fear, doubt, and worry to sabotage your peace, pull up a chair to God’s table and find His heart-satisfying gifts.” She writes for Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and Hope-Full Living.

Jeannie and her husband of more than fifty years live in an historic Georgia city and enjoy five grandchildren. Visit Jeannie at www.JeannieWaters.com  where she shares her love for Jesus and ideas for “Connecting with God and Each Other.” Find her on social media @jeanniewaters44.