There is an old illustration, told by several teachers of the past, that expresses well how gratitude draws out blessings among what otherwise appears mundane.
Imagine that before you there’s a dish of sand containing flecks of iron. If you were not told there were tiny metal bits in the sand, you would not see them because of the overwhelming presence of the sand. Even if you ran your fingers through the dish, you could not readily detect the particles. But now when a magnet is provided, and you use it to sweep through the dish, how easy for you to distinguish the iron that has been present all along.
Like failing to discern the iron in the sand, an ungrateful heart does not find mercies in the regular course of life. One then feeds on complaints over the course grade of existence to be endured. But when the magnet of Christ’s love for us sinners is present in our bowl of life, it becomes easier to see the shining iron – even gold! – in the allotted moments, activities and even challenges of our daily lives.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him,” Colossians 3:17.
May all have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!
J. A. Moldstad
