The G that Comes from God

*Good. God. Grace. Gratitude.* All four words begin with the letter G—the same letter that begins it all: God, who was first, the Word from the beginning.Are they in the right order in my heart this morning?I think so.The Good God gave us Grace, and by His Grace, we experience life in such a way that awakens Gratitude, so Gratitude becomes our response to the Goodness of God.It is so good to have a God who gives Grace—so we can experience Gratitude, even when it hurts.Oh yes, sometimes Gratitude comes from the hard stuff the Good God allows us to endure.And by His Grace, we Grow.Growth is another G.We grow through Gratitude.And when we’re tempted to slip into D for Despair or S for Sadness, we hold on to the G—the G that comes from God, and Gratitude will follow.Gratitude may show up in tears, gentle tears that quietly slide down our cheeks,forming little puddles of praise.Today, I am grateful for many reasons, but mostly because God has been good.I pray that my Gratitude of today sends waves into my tomorrows, requiring more space to give thanks.Because as long as God—the capital G—is in charge,I know I will always have reasons to be grateful.“Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” —Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)