How to Live Your Gratitude
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John F. Kennedy
Ribbon Jell-O.
Thanksgiving is fast-approaching, and due to the very nature of the holiday, thoughts of all the blessings in our lives likely come flooding to our minds. Our hearts overflow with thankfulness–and I can’t stop thinking about ribbon Jell-O.
Let me explain.
Ribbon Jell-O is one of my very favorite dishes at Thanksgiving. Not only do I love each colorful layer, but I really love the hands that make it. Every year since I was born, we have spent Thanksgiving with my parents’ best friends, Linda and Kent. These two have been like second parents to me, and I love them deeply and fiercely. My sweet Linda makes the ribbon Jell-O. She brought it once, years ago, and that’s all it took for me to fall head over heels in love. Every year after that, I begged her to make it again. Little did I know the sacrifice I was asking Linda to make.
You see, each layer of this eight-layer masterpiece takes up to an hour to set, so you have to reserve a whole day just to make Jell-O. When I first found this out, I thought, What? Who has time for this? Certainly not Linda—she had a full-time job, two boys to raise, and so much more on her plate. But each year, that Jell-O was on the Thanksgiving table looking as lovely as ever, and I knew it had been made just for me. Looking back, I now see that each beautiful layer was filled with more love than I could have comprehended at the time, and I am so incredibly grateful for the sacrifice Linda made every year to make my heart explode with joy at the simple sight of Jell-O.
Gratitude is a beautiful gift. Soak up each one of those thankful thoughts, delight in them, let gratitude go bone deep, and then use that gratitude to bless others around you.
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the definition of gratitude. Here is the Oxford Dictionary’s definition: grat-i-tude – noun – 1. the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Here’s the thing: true gratitude compels us to act. When we are full of God’s love and thankfulness, it needs to be poured out in return. Actions really do speak louder than words. A simple “thank you” for the ribbon Jell-O isn’t enough. I must taste it, enjoy it, go back for more, and then share it with those around me. I must live my gratitude.
As JFK once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
Dear friends, this Thanksgiving, let’s count our blessings and share them. Let’s live our gratitude.
Lord, I want to take a moment and thank you for all the blessings our lives. Help us see the ways we can share our blessings and live out our gratitude this week and every week. And let the abundance of our Thanksgiving tables overflow into our hearts, our homes, our communities, and anywhere else you send us. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2 (NIV)
Reach for More
This week’s challenge is simple. Share your blessings and live your gratitude. If you are blessed enough to have a Thanksgiving table brimming with delicious food, find someone who is not as fortunate and bless them with a meal. If your closets are brimming with extra clothes, share the abundance. If your heart is full of love, tell those around you how much they mean to you. Let’s not wait to share our blessings. Let’s live our gratitude each and every day.
Dear friends, you can do this. Be courageous, and remember that one small act of love is so much greater than none at all.
Please, come back and leave a comment telling us about how God spoke to you this week, or share your progress on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore. We would love to hear from you.
has a passion for all things sparkly, loves God with her whole heart, and is known to love Starbucks chai lattes a whole lot, too. Sarah is currently snuggled in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan with her hubby, J, and their sweet baby Theo.
Photograph by SaeKawaii.
Ribbon jell-O! Look how you remembered such a simple yet beautiful act of love! I have never had ribbon jell-O but I’ve tasted that same kind of simple service and it is so scrumptious. Thanks for writing this, Sarah. A wonderful reminder to take the time to love.????
The scrumptious taste of simple service…LOVE!!!
Oh how I just love this post!!! I believe that true giving softens the soil of our heart so that other fruit may bear through it. I love the “reach for more” challenge. And thank you for such a beautiful message
Thank you for your blog. Your words have been a blessing to me. In this current season of my life I feel as though I am surrounded by more final farewells and unexpected sadness over loses of people than any other time in my life. But through it all I have my anchor in the truth of God’s Word and thankless is who we, as believers, ought to be.
And thank YOU, Miss Karen, for coming to The Table!!! We have prayed so fervently that God would use this blog to bless others, and help them in only the ways He can. My heart breaks for your season of loss, but know this…we are hear to mourn with you. And when joy comes flooding back we will surely rejoice with you!!!
Yes! We should all make more ribbon jello! Gratitude and G-d. Thank you for another applicable post. Happy Holidays
Miss Emily! Yes! Always more ribbon jello!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thank you, Sarah. We know it theologically, but gratitude becomes part of our experience when we say it and do it.
Michelle…I just LOVE that…”gratitude becomes part of our experience when we say it and do it.” Yes, yes, and YES!
This weekend I had the privilege of taking my kids downtown to feed the homeless. We took ham and dressing, coats and blankets. Some folks moved through the line quietly with head down. Others made eye contact and offered a sincere, “thank you.” I stepped back into the shade for a minute to give the baby strapped to my back some reprieve from the sun. I entered into a conversation with a gentleman resting there, enjoying his meal with a broad smile. We shared “how many kids” and “where are you from” answers. Two unlikely people sharing a normal conversation. As I turned to go back to the serving line, he said, “Thank you so much for talking with me today.” I think that conversation made him feel more like a person than a project. When it comes down to it, that is what we all want—to be seen and valued. It doesn’t take a big gesture or a fancy meal to accomplish that. A simple eye-to-eye, distraction-free conversation can communicate gratitude and love.