Thankfulness: From Hand to Heart Day 6

"With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:“He is good;    His love toward Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid." Ezra 3:11 NIV

     A joy shared is a joy multiplied. There is so much truth in that statement. I'm a talker, I came from a long line of talkers, and I have had a hand in creating my own two little talkers. When my large family (one of eight siblings, and I have extended family in the area, too) gets together, we all talk over each other, with each other and to each other. We *love* to express ourselves in an outpouring of words. It is very overwhelming to the uninitiated, ask any of our spouses. When you aren't used to that kind of chaos, it is like being swept up in a flashflood! 

   But once someone has been around for a few years, they start to understand (even if they don't appreciate) that this is how we have community. Every tear is shared, every worry split, our collective wrath is fearful, but joy...we when rejoice together it is un-containable. And it swallows everyone around us in a torrent of thankfulness. And it is wonderful, and so precious.

    The Israelites were rejoicing. They had returned from captivity, and their beloved temple, to which invaders had laid waste, was finally being rebuilt. They were seeing restoration with their own eyes. And they were *together*. They had been spilled across many foreign places, but now they were coming home. And the fellowship was sweet. They had community once again. Together, their voices were strong, and they were one. Together, their joy, and gratitude, was multiplied.

Today's Reflection:
   When was the last time you shared in an expression of collective gratitude? Didn't sharing your thankfulness cause it to grow? Thank God for the sweetness of the fellowship of the Body, and find someone today to share your gratitude towards God.


Looking for the printable scripture writing plan? Or another day of the "Thankfulness: From Hand to Heart" study? Find them here!