How Can I Say Thanks?

Good morning, friends!

In January we lost an amazing musical talent with the passing of Andraé Edward Crouch.  Known as “the father of modern gospel music” he also worked closely with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Quincy Jones, and Madonna, among others.   He was given seven Grammy awards, many Dove and Billboard awards and his compositions and arrangements appeared in The Color Purple and The Lion King.  He had a gift for blending the gospel music that he grew up loving with contemporary and modern sounds that appealed to the masses. In 1971 Andraé Crouch, wrote a beautiful gospel song entitled, “My Tribute (to God be the glory).”  This was his song of praise and thanksgiving to God and remains one of my favorites songs to this day.  His opening verse is as follows:

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow can I say thanks
for the things you have done for me
Things so undeserved
Yet you gave to prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee

I try to focus daily on gratitude, to have “an attitude of gratitude”, to be truly thankful.  As I was thinking about thankfulness and thanksgiving this song kept circling my mind.  “How can I say thanks?”  I think it’s more than just the spoken word.  True thanksgiving comes from a place deep in your being, a place of loving surrender and unspeakable gratitude.  “The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude.”

Granted there are many levels of “thanks.”  There is the polite “thank you, have a great day!” at the bank or grocery store.  Kindness, politeness and civility are important fibers in the fabric of our daily lives.  There is the “thank you” spoken to a stranger for an unexpected act of favor.  There is “thanks” given for a job well done or a service provided.  A loving hug.  A heartfelt note of thanks.  All are important.

But the thanksgiving I’m focusing on here is the deeper spiritual, heartfelt, the “only you and God know and understand” form of thanks. The kind of thanks that you felt when your children were born, or when you fell in love and were so grateful that this wonderful man came into your life and wants to walk your journey with you, or when you are given an unspeakably great gift, emotionally or physically.  The kinds of thanksgivings that no words can describe.

I have been blessed beyond measure with so many things that I don’t deserve.   But I have been given them freely.  For that I’m grateful and my heart is full of thanksgiving.  Thank you to all of you for adding to my joy this year.    May your day be filled with love overflowing.

To God be the Glory.

Sending love and light your way.

Dana