Writing, Reflecting, and Thanking

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

He told them to give thanks . . . and they listened. 

The day was the Monday before our Thanksgiving break at school. The Upper School principal planned to deliver the chapel sermon. The kids had heard him speak many times during the school year, but usually to correct them about some naughty behavior, not share a sermon. 

He pointed us to a familiar psalm, where David thanked the Lord and instructed others to do the same, and then gave us three directives: have an attitude of gratitude, be faithful to be happy, and be thankful always. He finished with a unique twist. 

He called us teachers to the front, gave us a pad of sticky notes, and told us to distribute three each to the students during the next class period. Then, he instructed the students to write thanks to three different people on the notes and place the notes on the person’s classroom or office door. He wanted to see sticky notes all over the school. 

I did not return to the middle school hallway for two more periods, but when I did, I saw the students had listened. Notes lavished all the teachers’ doors, mine included. Sticky notes hung from the exit signs and adhered to almost every locker. I read some of them, but I read all of them on my door. As always, the words of thanks encouraged me. 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT).

King David had previously tried bringing the Ark of the Covenant (the symbol of God’s presence) to the Tabernacle—their worship house. But he failed to follow God’s instructions for moving it and paid the price. His next attempt proved successful. Then, he appointed Levites to lead the people in worship, which entailed thanking God. 

We usually think of Thanksgiving as the time to focus on thanking God, but the New Year provides an excellent time to reflect on the previous year and thank God for providing us with writing opportunities. I doubt any of us got more than we wanted—and some didn’t get as many as they wished. But they came—although in different forms. Devotions. Articles. Newspaper pieces. Books. Novellas. Short stories. Perhaps audibly at first through Christmas stories to our grandchildren or other stories to strangers or friends. 

Giving thanks when things go our way is easy, but we often forget to thank God because . . . well . . . things are going our way. Doing it when life tosses us around a little proves more challenging. Such as the writing opportunity we had to turn down because life got in the way. The Grim Reaper reaped. Aging parents aged. Rebellious children rebelled. Sickness sauntered in. Cancer cropped up. 

We don’t have to thank God for the troubling circumstances, but we should always thank him, regardless of our situation. No matter how bad things are, they could be worse. Believers have a hope that unbelievers don’t: we know the God who orchestrates our circumstances and can instantly change them. 

Thanking God is spiritually healthy. Being jealous of opportunities other writers have that we don’t isn’t. Thanking helps maintain our perspective of who we are and who God is. It reminds us that most people have far less than we do, even if we think we have little. We may not have gotten the book contract or secured the agent, but we have running water, modern conveniences, and our senses. 

We don’t have to influence millions with our writing or secure every opportunity we query—a basketful of play toys doesn’t necessarily equal happiness and peace. God will send the writing opportunities he wants us to have this New Year—and those will be enough. 

What are some writing opportunities for which you can thank God?

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Writing, Reflecting, and Thanking, insight from author Martin Wiles (@LinesFromGod) on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Martin Wiles is the founder of Love Lines from God (WWW.LOVELINESFROMGOD.COM) and serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions and Directing Editor for VineWords. He has authored six books and has been published in numerous publications. His most recent book, DON'T JUST LIVE...REALLY LIVE, debuted in October of 2021. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, author, and pastor.