ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 5, 2026
The words of Colossians 3:15-16 might be familiar to you. They are beautiful, upbeat, and in many ways, I find them to be representative of what it means to live in faith. Paul wrote,
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”
While visiting my grandparents on vacation years ago, I remember walking into the kitchen early in the morning (well, not too early) and finding my grandmother humming a tune as she moved from one project to another with surprising agility for a woman her age. Breakfast was coming together for us late risers; freshly picked items from the garden were being cleaned and prepared; a pot of something was cooking on the stove; and some vegetables were in the pressure cooker for canning. She greeted me with joy, taking a moment for a quick hug, as she went to get an item from the cupboard. Some people would have used words like upbeat, happy, cheerful, or peppy to describe her. Those all fit, but I really believe I was witnessing a spirit of gratitude. Her life was a genuine expression of thankfulness. Who do you know whose life is full of gratitude every single day?
You have provided me with a plethora of amazing experiences to motivate my gratitude, O Loving Lord, and I only hope that others are able to see just how thankful I am. Amen.
