The Secret to the Season

Remember when I told you about reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp? In it, she writes about this word, eucharisteo. It is in this word that we find the secret to joy. It is also the reason I wanted to do a "lens of gratitude" leading up to Thanksgiving. Because when you break down eucharisteo, it all makes sense:

Charis= grace.

Eucharisteo= thanksgiving.

Chara= joy.

It's the key to...everything. The key to finding joy in all circumstances=thankfulness. I thought about it, and how cool is it that we have this big period of Thanksgiving that leads right into the most joyous time of the year? It sets us up nicely, doesn't it? We take a day to legitimately look at our blessings and give thanks, which in turns ushers in a season of massive joy. Now that Thanksgiving is (literally) "so yesterday" and the Christmas season is officially here (hello, Christmas music!!), don't put down your lens of gratitude. It is in giving thanks that joy abounds.

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done."

-Psalm 92:1-4