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Two Words for a Heart that Overflows

ByLibby Snow

two wordsI don’t think I say “thank you” enough. In fact, I know I don’t.

I don’t always receive compliments well, I find myself having an expectant heart rather than a grateful one, and I probably come across as bossy and controlling to my kids.

Lovely.

Yet, isn’t it true that those two words, “thank you,” are some of the most gracious and encouraging words to hear?  And when they are spoken to us, we feel our hearts soften. Why? Probably because it feels good to feel appreciated, doesn’t it?

I like to BE thanked. I like it when my kids tell me dinner tastes good or that they notice I cleaned out their bathroom sink. I like it when my husband thanks me for doing the laundry or starting the coffee pot before he does.  And no doubt I love it when a friend acknowledges the sacrifice of time I have given to her.

But, I need to say thank you more.  And I think I will start to do that when I choose to realize (and remind myself) of what and whom I have.

I surely know it’s easy to be side-swiped when tragedy hits and life completely falls out from under my feet. I’ve lived those moments and they surely seem suffocating. I also know that the stress of just LIVING and EXISTING is EXHAUSTING. It’s stressful managing or leading a home, working a job, running a ministry, whatever we do each and everyday.

But even so… I want to be thankful!

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7 NLT).

Having a grateful heart HAS to be a choice. And choosing to be thankful for what I have, and WHOM I have could quite possibly make someone’s day. I’ve read books on gratitude and how it changes us—I firmly believe it.

Eucharisteo—thanksgiving—always precedes the miracle (Ann Voskamp from her book One Thousand Gifts).

Actually articulating thankfulness takes gratitude to a level where many don’t always take it. But we need to. My parents need to know how thankful I am for their example and endless outpouring into my life. I want my husband to hear me verbally appreciate him for the countless hours he puts in to support our family.

I want to SAY these words more to people in my life. I want to “dig my roots deep into Jesus” and let my heart overflow.

Join me!

Libby

Libby thrives on people and intentional relationships with them! She is a former middle school English teacher (nine years of teaching). She has been married to Ryan for nearly 13 years and has been a pastor's wife all along. She is blessed to be a mom of 3 little ones, yet is also anxiously awaiting meeting her soon-to-be-son in Ethiopia. Libby is refreshed by her oh-so-treasured quiet mornings in the Word and with her Savior. She also loves exercising, entertaining in her home, and her adoration to cook/create in the kitchen. You can follow bits and pieces about their adoption story at Snows2Ethiopia.

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