Chapter 10: Gratitude

Growing Through Grief

On the way to school each morning my mom would play Thankful by Mary Mary, it was an album I knew cover to cover by the time I was 6 years old. I remember her singing the lyrics with such passion, conviction, thankfulness. Throughout my life she would tell me the stories of how God had been there for her, with her. She always gave Him all the glory and praise. Her humility and awe of God are still inspiring me to this day. She was always thankful for the little things and the joy they bring.

My Granny didn’t grow up with much. She lost her mother at 13 years old after helping her older sister care for her. She had 6 beautiful children, and when her sister passed away she helped to take care of her niece and nephews. Despite never having much, she always gave so much to others. In her old age she’d walk around the house humming and singing Old Rugged Cross or Blessed Assurance. She’d sit and tell me stories about her childhood, her struggles, what the world was like back then. She’d recount stories of the civil rights sit-ins in the Woolworth’s, and the ingenuity they had back then to make a little go a long way. She was always so thankful, to see the world change, to see her family grow and stick together, to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren mature.

The women who came before me, their lives were never easy. They didn’t have anything handed to them. They had to work hard for everything they had. They didn’t have much but they were always thankful, in every circumstance.

Now as I get older I see why gratitude is so important. Thanksgiving is worship. It draws us near to God. It helps us to dwell in His presence. “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Psalm‬ ‭95‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬

These songs of Thanksgiving, connect us. All of us, flawed human beings, acknowledging that it is not any of us worthy of any glory, but it’s the Lord. In all His holiness, in all His goodness, in all His graciousness, in all His faithfulness. “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father;” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NASB

Learning to give thanks to the Lord, without regard to the season, in all things and for all things, was the sweetest lesson I’ve learned on my journey growing through grief.