Tag Archives: All you can keep is what you’ve given away

The language of love

In the old Dutch film, Babbette’s Feast, the old General Lorens is found in a moment of contemplation. Facing an empty chair he imagines his younger self sitting there and proclaims to him, “I have fulfilled all of your ambitions and achieved all of your dreams. Now you must prove to me that I made the right choice.” He had forsaken young love to pursue a brilliant military career and now carefully weighs his decision. He concludes that “the only things we can take from this world is what we have given away.”

My mother has always been fond of the song, “Love is something when you give it away, you end up having more.” Thanksgiving is like that too. Thanks is meant for giving. Thanksgiving is a language of love. (Contrarily, Billy Graham would talk of ingratitude as being one of the most vicious of sins.)
Imagine a life filled with giving thanks and one characterized by ingratitude. At life’s end you will be remembered for one or the other. Funny, we aren’t often aware of making life choices. But make them we do everyday in the small ways we give thanks and share our appreciation with others. Grow your life legacy by growing and sharing your thankful heart today.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord.” Psalm 92:1