Gratitude
Daily readings
12/13: Luke 15:1-10
12/14: Luke 1:26-38
12/15: Luke 1:39-47
12/16: Phil. 2:6-11
12/17: Isa. 61:1-3
12/18: Isa. 61:8-11
12/19: Ps. 126
Devotion
Luke 1:39-47
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Gratitude vs. Entitlement
G.K. Chesterton has said that “gratitude is joy doubled by wonder.” We see that in this text. Elizabeth says “why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Do you see the wonder? She expresses joy doubled by wonder - she is grateful! This true gratitude requires a humble heart. You can hear in her exclamation a complete lack of entitlement. Entitlement would expect and feel deserving of such a blessing, and then would miss out on the doubled joy of gratitude.
We breathe the air of entitlement in our culture. Air that ironically only grows thicker around the holidays and leads to the suffocation of what ought to mark such an incredible celebration. Gratitude is choked out by entitlement because we fail to see with humble wonder.
Giving thanks
To modify another quote from Chesterton, “Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Shouldn’t I be grateful to someone when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cake and clothing. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?” Of course we do have someone to be thankful to for legs and for birth! But we can thank him for an even greater blessing than these!
Mary celebrates with Elizabeth with even greater joy and gratitude, bursting out in praise to God saying, “my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” She directs her gratitude to God, and in particular to him as her “Savior.” Of course she is grateful for the incredible privilege to be “the mother of my Lord” but what she is far more grateful for is the gift that we all equally partake of right along side her - the salvation that this baby will bring!
We too should be rid of our entitlement and humble ourselves under God, expressing heartfelt gratitude through thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of the most natural and joyful forms of praise. May it generally flow from our hearts through our lips in this season!
Reflective questions
Are there areas in my life where I have become entitled?
How can I cultivate humility and a view of what I truly deserve that will help me be grateful?
Am I awake to the beauty of small blessings (like good food) and the glory of great blessings (like salvation)?
Do I express my gratitude frequently?
Family Activity
Supplies: GRATITUDE SCAVENGER HUNT PRINTOUT
Joy doubled by wonder = Gratitude
Joy doubled by wonder can grow out of being thankful and living a grateful life.
As you work through this scavenger hunt with your children this week, help them to experience gratitude. Bonus-each day, take 1 photo of the 4 grateful things and post it on social media-spread Joy by letting others see Jesus in your family.