Grateful, Grateful

Grateful, Grateful

John Bucchino is a talented composer and lyricist whose songs I stumbled on several years ago. My favorite tune of his is one called “Grateful.” “I’ve got a heart that can hold love,” it says, “I’ve got a mind that can think.” It’s impossible to stay depressed, writes Bucchino, when he remembers how he’s blessed. I get it. I am truly blessed and duly grateful, too.

I’m grateful for any day of late that feels more like fall than summer. And for the pink sunrises I see every morning now that my bedroom windows face east. Grateful for the work that is waiting for me each day: good work that I enjoy; work that consistently puts gas in the car and groceries in the pantry and gives my heart and mind a workout in the process. Grateful for the friends whose questions keep me honest and whose prayers keep me close. For a lifelong best friend who happens to be my sister and for two beautiful nieces (and their husbands) whom I am crazy about. For parents who believed in me no matter what goofy thing I did. For big stuff like life and health and small stuff like blackberries on sale at the grocery store and blood-red peonies abloom in November. For things hoped for and things unexpected.

Mostly, though, I’m grateful that my heart knows whom to thank for all the goodness that is mine. Sure, the list of things is gratifying, but it’s the Giver who really makes my heart sing. Any gift divorced from its giver is a lifeless thing; I’m grateful God “leaves the tags on” for me so I can see where all the best stuff comes from.

What are you grateful for—and for whom? What satisfies your soul and makes your heart sing? Whose presence blesses you like crazy? What beauties threaten to take your breath away? You really should thank Someone, don’t you think?

Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.

James 1:17-18, HCSB