02-07-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 7, 2025
A friend of mine grew up calling his maternal grandmother, GeeGee. He told a story about his GeeGee, but spun things a bit by suggesting that all along her nickname was GG, and it stood for Gratitude and Generosity. He went on to explain how both of those attributes were very real in his GeeGee’s life. Not only did I love how he described his GeeGee, but I would take it a step further and suggest that generosity is most often rooted in gratitude. When we are on the receiving end of a gift, an unmerited gift, and we recognize it for what it is, humble gratitude is the only real response. In fact, I believe that gratitude is the fuel for generosity. In 1st Thessalonians 5:18, the Apostle Paul wrote what are some very familiar words, “Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God’s will is not simply that we praise God’s name, but that we see clearly what grace means for us. It is that shocking and breath-taking moment when we are hit by the transformative power of God’s unconditional and unrelenting love. There’s no conscious decision to be thankful; instead, an irrepressible genesis of awe becomes the good soil where gratitude grows. 

Sometimes it is good to be hit upside the head by your grace, Amazing God. There are days when this immeasurable power to heal and transform all things becomes sort of ho-hum, so lackluster that it does not require a second glance. This is not how I desire to live and it sure is not what your gift deserves. Awaken me in this moment to all you have and continue to give. Amen.