Thankful

The 20th century theologian Karl Barth wrote, “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.”

Think about that for a moment.  When you have joy, when you are experiencing an event or remembering a situation that brings you great joy, at your core, what do you feel?

“Thankful, thankful
I’ve gotta take the time to say, that I’m
Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
I’ve gotta be thankful, thankful”

Before reading this quote from Karl Barth, I had never thought about joy in this way.  Yesterday, while I was watching our two youngest girls dancing their Irish shoes off at the Rathskellar here in Indy, with a giant smile on my face, I felt pure joy.  I felt thankful.  Thankful that I have a family who enjoys spending time together, embracing our Irish-ness.  Thankful that I have a job which allows me to break away for special events like this (and fund them!).  Thankful for the innumerable blessings God has brought into my life.  I was filled with joy.

Johnny Lang, a pretty hard core blues guy who started at a very young age, put out an album in 2006 called “Turn Around”.   His song “Thankful” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CaZIG2I_0k&feature=kp) is one of my favorites, but the whole the whole album is a song of praise.  I love the gospel feel of this one especially with the choir in the background.  I’m not sure where he was in his faith walk prior to this, but in listening to these songs, there is no doubt in my mind where he is now.  The root of the word “convert”, traditionally used to describe ones transition to a life of faith, comes from the Latin “convertere”; translated as “to turn around”.

“Someone sitting in a prison cell
Wasting away in their own personal hell
Everybody got their own story to tell
I’ve gotta be thankful, thankful 

Man, I used to think I didn’t have a lot
Now I realize just how much I’ve got
Now every day I’m gonna take the time and stop to be
Thankful, thankful”

There are dozens if not hundreds of references in the Bible to being thankful and giving thanks.  They are too numerable to mention.  But one of my favorites:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. “ (Philippians 4:6)

Oh, and yes, that is Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame you hear singing along with Johnny on this one.  He and his “brothers” sang “Jesus is Just Alright”, and I fully agree.

“I’ve been riding on this roller coaster ride
Round and round I’ve seen the up and downside
And I’m here to tell you that the secret of life is being 

Thankful”

So, the next time you experience joy…not just feeling happy, but true joy…realize that in the feeling warming your heart, the tears welling up in your eyes, you are praising God, being thankful.