students of jesus

There are a few objections to thankfulness. Some say it teaches us to yield our lives to outside factors—the actions of others or the follies of chance. Others object to gratitude because it is rooted in the past. Whether we are thankful for those things we already have or the best moments of our lives, some say thankfulness is nothing more than revisionist nostalgia and a longing for that past.

But they are mistaken. Thankfulness is more than nostalgia. It is receiving the present moment—each moment—as a gift from God. The Father is not only present everywhere, he is present in each moment. What’s more, only he can plumb the depths held by every passing minute.

Our memories are too small. We cannot remember each minute of the previous week—how much less the minutes that have filled a decade? What if thankfulness is the safe-deposit of all our moments? What if the mere act of gratitude in the moment captures and stores the moment for us to appreciate—and praise him—again and again throughout eternity? Too often I’ve experienced his presence or discovered the joy of heaven in a family moment only to think, “Jesus, please help me remember this, and give you praise in the remembering.”

If we can discover the sacred potential of each moment, we will find a pearl of great promise: his kingdom, here, today—and discover that his kingdom is big enough to hold all of our grateful yesterdays as well.

Ask Yourself: Is it possible I’ve forgotten the goodness of God from last year—or ten years ago?

Live Into It: Don’t try to be Indiana Jones by searching for the the past. Instead, become a curator of each new moment by entrusting it to God’s safe keeping. How? Perhaps thanking him in the moment is the key to preserving that moment forever.