gratitude OR thanks?
Is a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” the same as a “practice of gratitude?” I found myself wondering yesterday while reading Psalm 50. Is it merely updating the language from antiquated images of animal sacrifice to modern terms of spiritual practices?
Do I eat bulls’ meat?
Do I drink goats’ blood?
Offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving!
Fulfill the promises you made to the Most High!
Cry out to me whenever you are in trouble;
I will deliver you, then you will honor me.” Ps. 50:13-15 (CEB)
The social work/psychology part of my mind is curious about the effect of gratitude and thanksgiving on our brains. Sometimes truths about human nature get buried in Christianese, so that when I throw out the murky bathwater, the insight gets lost. Perhaps we have been focusing on gratitude while neglecting thanksgiving? Or vice versa? Obviously, I’m not the first person to ask these questions, so an internet search readily supplies answers. Some distinctions may be:
-gratitude acknowledges grace privately, while thanksgiving proclaims it publicly
-gratitude focuses on the gift, but thanksgiving exalts the Giver
It only takes a little research to realize that we- as human beings, as children of God, as followers of Jesus- need both gratitude and thanksgiving in order to be healthy, mature people. Expressing thanks- to specific people for their kindness and contribution, to God for particular gifts- is an area in which I could grow.
Thank you for sharing the impact that had on you. Thank you for cleaning up after the meal. Thank you for going out of your way, for giving your time, for that thoughtful little gift.
I want to cultivate gratitude and give thanks. Both of these practices are good for our brains, our bodies, and our spirits. Enduring truths hidden in plain sight of scripture, that if we practice them, we will experience more joy, more contentment.
In Colossians 2:6, Paul encourages us to overflow or abound, with thanksgiving or gratitude, depending on the translation. I imagine asking him which is correct, and him saying, ‘Both!” Overflow with gratitude. Abound in thanksgiving. Both. And.
Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong [established] in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful [abounding/overflowing with gratitude]. Col. 2:6 (Amplified Bible)
May we grow in gratitude and in giving thanks, deeply rooted in God’s love, built on Jesus our rock, and established in faith. May we overflow and abound, with gratitude and thanksgiving. -Renée, NCF Pastor