Ask a group of people to name a taste of heaven and likely answers will include a favorite meal, a beloved quiet spot, or a happy get-together with family and friends.
But British minister William Romaine (1714-1795) suggested a different way to experience a taste of heaven that doesn’t involve cooking, traveling, or gathering. His recommendation: gratitude to God.
Gratitude to God
makes even a temporal blessing
a taste of heaven.
–William Romaine
Such tastes of heaven are not few and far between either. During every one of the 1,440 minutes of each day, blessings descend, including such privileges as:
- Just getting out of bed in the morning and being able to move about
- enjoying the privilege of communicating with others–including with God himself
- receiving adequate strength to fulfill the day’s responsibilities
- taking in helpful information and experiencing delight through our five senses
- encouraging others with kindness and increasing our own joy in the process
Though none of these are rare blessings, they still hold great value.
If you remember the dignity of the Giver,
no gift will seem small or mean,
for nothing can be valueless that is
given by the most high God.
–Thomas á Kempis
Not only do the gifts themselves hold value, they demonstrate the depth and value of God’s gracious love toward us—when we’re grateful for them.
To be grateful is to recognize
the love of God in everything He has given us—
and He has given us everything.
Every breath we draw is a gift of His love,
every moment of existence is a grace,
for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
–Thomas Merton
Therefore, we’d do well to follow the advice of nineteenth-century Scottish minister and author J. R. MacDuff:
Little did Reverend MacDuff know what secular researchers would discover about gratitude a century beyond his lifetime. The benefits include more than a sense of well-being. Grateful people enjoy:
- Better sleep
- A stronger immune system
- Improved mental health
- Increased optimism
- Better relationships*
In addition, a few discerning Christ-followers have noted:
1. Gratitude soothes over the irritations of life as attention is directed away from trouble and toward the blessings that remain.
We would worry less if we praised more.
Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.
–Harry Ironside (1876-1951),
pastor, author, theologian
In other words, a grateful heart is a contented and satisfied heart. Doesn’t that sound like a taste of heaven?
2. “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter every day epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world” (John Milton).
Every day epiphanies? Transcendent moments of awe? These too sound like glorious tastes of heaven.
3. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life” (Melody Beattie) . . . as we begin to see the wealth we already own, the blessings we already enjoy, the prayers God has already answered.
The unthankful heart discovers no mercies;
but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and,
as the magnet finds iron, so it will find in every hour,
some heavenly blessings!”
–Henry Ward Beecher
In this week leading up to Thanksgiving 2021, what tastes of heaven are you enjoying? Please share a sample with us in the comment section below!
* https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-gratitude-practice#takeaway
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What a wonderful and rich post! I am thankful that into my 70th year God has still given strength for long quiet walks and for children and grandchildren who check in regularly to see how poppy is doing!
Thank you, Pastor Pete. I agree: strength for semi-strenuous activities and good times with children and grandchildren are certainly in the top ten or twenty for us retirees!
What an appropriate post for Thanksgiving that is needed all year. Thanks for keeping your blog going as it is very inspiring in the reminders to be grateful. I had not read anything by Thomas a Kempis remembering all gifts from God are meaningful. I don’t show the gratitude that God deserves. At times I focus on the very few things I don’t have instead of looking at all God has given me and the many times he has protected me as I walked through the Valley of Death. Thank you Nancy!
You’re welcome, Sam. We’re all guilty of taking things for granted; perhaps gratitude can be our focus during these retirement years! Praising God with you for the times he’s protected you.
we are bother pondering gratitude as we near Thanksgiving. Not surprising is it? I have noticed remembering to be grateful, slows me down too. so refreshing. Happy Thanksgiving, friend
I can see how gratitude would foster slowing down, as it encourages holding onto moments a little longer with greater attention. Also appreciate your idea that gratitude is refreshing. Another reason for making it an ongoing practice! Thank you, Jean!
Gratitude as a taste of heaven – that is beautiful. I just finished reading “Grateful” and it’s compelling me again that I need to be more mindful of giving thanks. God has given me SO much.
I’m so glad you liked William Romaine’s quote, Lisa. A gratitude journal has helped me be more mindful. Though I only write down an item or two for each day, just the remembering of events and blessings along the way has been a delight.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to be with my extended family next week at Thanksgiving, Nancy. We always say how we’re glad the Thanksgiving weekend isn’t more than four days or we’d probably be at each other’s throats on the fifth. So that’s my gratitude goal this year: to end the weekend wishing I had even more time with these wonderful people, no matter our differences.
BTW, gratitude-grace. Do both words come from the same origin? I like to think they go hand-in-hand.
I too am very grateful we’ll be with at least part of our family on Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful gift when family members are also friends! As for the origins of gratitude and grace–interesting question. That’ll take some research! But you’re right–grace (kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness) and gratitude do seem related. The latter is certainly part of the former.
What a great post on being grateful!
Thank you, Mary. I pray you’re able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your girls and their families, perhaps extended family as well. Would that Bill could be with you–in full health. That day is coming, perhaps SOON. It feels like events are lining up for Christ’s return!
Great insight!! I’ve been reminding myself to have an attitude of gratitude and wow what a difference it makes!! Today I’m thankful that worry or fear don’t rule my thoughts..praising God for surrender and His peace!!❤️
Good for you, Alicia–gratitude DOES make a difference! What you chose to mention–that worry or fear don’t rule your thoughts–is one blessing that not many people would list. I’m so glad you did–God’s peace that transcends understanding IS a wonderful gift!
I am especially grateful when I encounter the same devotional message from two different devotionals on the same day. It brings me closer to Him as He admonishes me to focus on a particular area of my spiritual life. It makes me feel me blessed, encouraged, and reinforces how much the Lord loves me.
Oh yes–those moments when we sense God’s spirit speaking in our hearts–those too are precious gifts! Thank you for adding that blessing to our list, Cheri!