I had another set of thoughts this morning that are reflective of this day.

Yesterday, I pointed the lens outward, giving thanks for people and things that allow my life to flourish.

I got to wondering what I do each day … how I am … that draws others to give thanks.

What qualities or behaviors can any of us demonstrate that will, inevitably, lead another to be grateful for us or the things we bring?

The Apostle Paul offers us an answer.

In his letter to the church in Galatia (currently, Ankara, the capital of Turkey), he described what he termed the “fruits of the Spirit.” In simple terms, these were the natural behaviors one would expect to see in someone who was a sincere follower of Jesus.

They are:

Love. Joy. Peace. Forbearance. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control.

At first glance, we may run the risk of just nodding our heads and acknowledging that these are good things. Then, we go about our business.

In fact, they make me avert my eyes as their bright clarity exposes the depths to which I am not worthy to be described this way.

Far too infrequently do I act out of true love, the agape love I’ve mentioned before. While I have received such love, I have frequently not reciprocated as I am called to do. How many times a day do I miss the chance to bring joy into the lives of others? I am often quick to seek control, to shape the things around me, instead of demonstrating forbearance (patience) and self-control. While I’d like to think I’m a kind person who has a gentle touch, I am reminded by others that I can be quick to lodge an objection without pausing to catch my breath, speaking in a tone not reflective of kindness. My thought life would not measure up to appropriate scrutiny. Too often, I find myself hoping for bad things to happen to people, seeing them through my own insufficient eyes and not through the eyes of God. Can I not pause for just a little bit longer to wonder what levels of good I am missing? Perhaps, if I find little of merit, I might feel pangs of sorrow rather than anger. Most importantly, will my faithfulness, my integrity, hold firm against all sorts of attacks or will I be like, Peter, denying the truth when push comes to shove?

The Good News, of course, is that these qualities Paul describes are the natural outcomes of one who is open to God’s transformative power. I, and we, can all grow in our capacity to demonstrate these fruits. While falling far short of an ideal, we can rejoice when our lives bring to mind one or more of these things in the view of others. The best news of all is that, by surrendering, we are forgiven for our inadequacies.

I hope on this Thanksgiving that each of us can consider why others might give thanks for us … for our lives that are expressions of these fruits. I imagine such thanks will result in moments of full and contented hearts. And, that would be a Thanksgiving gift indeed.