In Chapter 10 (“Empty to Fill”) of One Thousand Gifts, author Ann Voskamp continues her discussion of grace. As we take every opportunity to let the fullness of grace flow, we don’t just take God’s blessings- we become the blessing! That is, after all, what will determine whether our lives are fulfilling and meaningful. Ann emphasizes that when we give thanks to God, God essentially is calling us to do thanks. Thanks-giving literally becomes thanks-living. As we do thanks, the author states, “our lives become the very blessings we have received.”
It is crucial that Christ is at the center of our thanks-giving, for that is when joy rains as we serve Him. When people are the focus of our service, weariness and frustration result, as Dorothy Sayers (must be British!) describes in her book Letters to a Diminished Church:
“Whenever man is made the centre of things, he becomes the storm-centre of trouble. The moment you think of serving people, you begin to have a notion that other people owe you something for your pains. . . . You will begin to bargain for reward, to angle for applause.”
As Mother Teresa once said, if we do our work to, for and with Jesus, we will be content.
