As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12-17

The empty tomb of Easter reminds all of us the new life that God has offered us in Jesus Christ. As we get ready to face today, what will it look like if I clothe myself with thankfulness?

This passage from Colossians 3 is rich in encouraging a thankful attitude:

“Be thankful …. with gratitude in your heart …. do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God …”

If we stop and think about it, most of us do have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Do we take the time for thanks?

Teresa and I found a wall plaque a few years ago at a shop in a little town in North Carolina. We brought it home, and it hangs in our kitchen (a place that I frequent a few times each day.) It reads:

“What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?”

I want to be really thankful today.

Prayer

Thank You, God, for my life, my wife, my work, my play, my health, my family and friends, and my place as a child in Your family through grace of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, in whose name I pray. Amen.