Have you ever come across a book that really made an impact on your life? One that made a lasting impression, and you know it’s words will resonate with you for a long time? Perhaps it is a book that was life-changing, one that came along at just the time you needed?
A day after my 33rd birthday, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a four year-old and a 9 month-old. My world was turned upside down. The only thing I could think about was that I didn’t want to leave my husband with two little girls, and two little girls without a mommy. The world seemed dark, full of uncertainties. All of the exciting and celebratory things on our calendar immediately switched to tests, scans, hospital visits, chemo, radiation and surgeries. Thankfully, I had a wonderful support system. And my Lord and Saviour was in control. In Him, I had hope. He was the only sure thing in days that were anything but certain. But life was heavy, joy was clouded.
A book was introduced to me. “One Thousand Gifts – a Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are” by Ann Voskamp. The timing couldn’t have been better. I needed something to turn this diagnosis around on its head. I needed to learn how to be thankful for the insufferable trial given to me. It was a monumental challenge that seemed almost impossible.
I wasn’t familiar with the author, and her prose was different than what I was used to. Almost poetic, thoughts and feelings bleeding onto the page. However, it was a perfect match to how my brain was working at the time. Clear thoughts and garbled thoughts jumbled together in my mind, and my emotions ran wildly across the landscape. But her words spoke to me, a salve to my wounded soul. She, just like I, wanted to live – and to live fully, even in hard moments.
Through her writing, Ann introduced me to the Greek word, eucharisteo. It means to be grateful, to actively express gratitude, to give thanks. She explained,
“The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace”. Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy”. Joy. Ah. . . yes. I might be needing me some of that.
She further explains that deep joy (chara) is found at the table of thanksgiving (eucharisteo). When there is the giving of thanks, there is joy. Charis – grace. Eucharisteo – thanksgiving. Chara – joy.
Grace, thanksgiving, joy – eucharisteo. The key to living a full life.
Ann Voskamp asserts that “Eucharisteo – thanksgiving – always precedes the miracle.”
The word eucharisteo is found throughout the New Testament, from Matthew to Revelation. It is used 41 times. By Jesus, a healed leper, a Pharisee, Luke, Paul and John. And it is true; thanksgiving precedes the miracle. Here is just a small sample as I searched through the Scriptures:
Example 1: Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and gave thanks for the cup which would represent the blood He would shed for the remission of our sins. He then took the bread and gave thanks for it as it would represent His body that would be a given as a sacrifice.
Luke 22:17,19
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves.
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Example 2: As He was passing through Samaria and Galilee, Jesus entered a village and was met by ten leprous men, asking for mercy. He told them to go and show themselves to the priests and as they went, they were cleansed. However, one of the men, when he was healed, turned back and fell at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks.
Luke 17:16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Example 3: Jesus gave thanks for five barley loaves and two small fishes before He performed a miracle and used them to feed five thousand men, besides the women and children. They were filled and had twelve full baskets remaining.
John 6:11
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
Hang in there with me. There is something special in these examples, and I’d love to show you a few more. But maybe you can pause for a moment and give thanks to God for something.
Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful colors of the trees.
Example 4: Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, became sick and died. When he was dead four days, Jesus visited the family and performed a true miracle for them in raising Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:41, 43-44
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Example 5: Paul, as a prisoner, was sent on a ship to Rome. During their journey, they encountered a storm and lost control of the ship. Fourteen days into battling the seas, Paul encouraged the ship’s company to eat. Before eating, he offers (in the presence of ungodly men) his grateful thanks to God for the food. They ate and continued their journey, ending up shipwrecked. However, miraculously, all of the 276 men on board escaped safely to land.
Acts 27:35
And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Paul writes in a letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:18):
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Jesus and these other individuals gave us the example to follow. Giving thanks precedes the miracle. Always give thanks. That is the first step.
Just after studying and writing this verse, I walk down the hallway to get a drink and I see it. A fall decoration that I’ve put up for years. I know what it says, but I had forgotten about it. Here, right in front of my face, is the reminder. In everything, give thanks. Again, God puts the same thought in front of my eyes or ears two or three times. To catch my attention. I love how He does that.
In her book, Ann encourages her readers to start a list. A list of a thousand gifts given to us by God. A list of things we already have and experience. An opportunity to open our eyes to what is around us and how to live fully in this one life we are given.
Because when you are giving thanks, it’s difficult to be angry or bitter.
It’s hard to feel a negative emotion when you are feeling thankful. So during those many years ago, I started my list:
#1 Summer nights, warm like a blanket
#2 Belly laughs and pictures of belly laughs
Ponder this.
For a year and a half, as I battled my cancer, I pondered God’s gifts and gave thanks for them. This practice of giving thanks pulled me up out of the pit of despair. And kept me from losing my footing and falling back in when days were harsh.
#3 Baby girls, holding hands in the back seat
#4 The shade of tall buildings in the city
Of course, the Bible, God’s Word, will always be the most life-changing book. But Ann Voskamp opened my eyes to just one particular word in it that means so much. Eucharisteo – grace, thanksgiving, joy. She says in her book, “Every moment I live, I live bowed to something. And if I don’t see God, I’ll bow down before something else.”. I’ll leave you with this thought. Make sure you see God in every moment that you live and give Him thanks. Then wait for the miracle.
#5 A good doctor’s report – cancer free!
What will you do with this day you’ve been given? How will you make it matter for His Kingdom?
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Beth you brought me to tears with this one. I know I haven’t been as grateful as I should have been over the years but lately I have tried to concentrate on how blessed I truly am. Of course I have good days and bad but even on the bad days I can always find something to be grateful for, especially now with all the turmoil in our country. I’m not sure that I could ever be as strong and faithful as you have been but I know that I am so very grateful for you and your testimony, Thank you for this post we all need to be reminded of the many things that we need to be grateful for each and every day. ❤️🙏
Thank you for your sweet and honest note. Just like anything else, I found that giving thanks becomes easier and easier with practice. And to be honest too, it can be really hard in some instances. Learning to recognize His blessings in everything, even on those bad days and the days where I am just failing Him, myself, and everyone else, has been so helpful to me. I hope the post continues to encourage you and the word “eucharisteo” becomes as meaningful to you as it has to me.
Thank you Beth! A wonderful and timely devotion!
Thank you, Doris! I hope it was a blessing!
Beth, thank you for opening your heart and sharing such a personal and powerful message with us. Your words, and the scripture you highlighted, truly touched my soul today. I am so grateful I took the time to read your blog; it was a gift! Learning the word eucharisteo—grace, thanksgiving, joy—feels like a divine reminder, perfectly timed as we prepare for Thanksgiving. What a beautiful way to set the table for gratitude, both literally and metaphorically. I wish for you, Mark, and your entire family a season overflowing with joy, peace, and love.
Ann, I am so thankful this post was helpful to you. In truth, I have to often reset and focus on “eucharisteo” to make sure my heart is where it needs to be. We can experience so much more joy when we receive His grace and give thanks in everything! Thank you, we also wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year!