What would we do without Nike's slogan to riff from...
Reading Psalm 145 out of the daily lectionary is a daily celebration. Literally. It's in there every day.
It's a good thing, really. I don't read it every day, but I probably should because I should be reminded to celebrate every day. The verbs get me...
Extol, bless, laud, declare, meditate, proclaim, celebrate, sing...
From one generation to the next, we celebrate our God.
Much recent research around gratitude has been published. Apparently, those of us who live in an active practice of gratitude are healthier and happier. Pausing daily to recount what you are grateful for makes a physical and mental difference in our health and well-being. In a culture that constantly reminds us of what we want that we don't have, what is broken, what is scary, what is depressing...it's pretty hard to stay focused on gratitude.
Celebrate in the darkness of Advent. While we are waiting, be grateful. Use those verbs. Consider the very character of God: gracious, merciful, abounding in steadfast love, good to all, compassionate. Be aware of what God does: upholds the falling, raises the bowed down, provides food, watches over us.
Even in the best of situations, its too easy to forget to be grateful. Sometimes in the worst of times, it never crosses our minds. I think I'm seeing the value in the daily lectionary's choice to include it every day.
Being grateful is a celebration of what we have been given. Which brings us full circle...
Just do it.
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