Giving Thanks in All Circumstances by Leanne Davidson

 

We are pleased to welcome Leanne Davidson as she joins our writing community here on InScribe Writers Online. 

Believers are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

Giving thanks in all circumstances is certainly a timely topic for a month of Thanksgiving! This verse in 1 Thessalonians has been both a challenge and a moment of discovery for me:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

         (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV)

My writing life actually began in a way I would never have anticipated. In November of 2022, my youngest son, Mikael, died of an accidental overdose. The heartache and agony of losing your child requires a means of expression. It cannot be held inside our bodies with no channel to  release it. I turned to writing as a way to articulate my grief and put my biblical lament on paper. In response to God's prompting, I began sharing these journal entries in a blog and eventually published books. 

The benefits of this have been twofold. For one, the act of placing complicated feelings on paper is very therapeutic. It provides an external, concrete process to reflect on the convoluted thoughts and feelings of grief and God's response to them. In addition, fulfilling God's purpose by using writing as a means to offer help and comfort to others provides meaning and direction at a time most needed. 

Having said that, I certainly can't say I am thankful for the reason my writing life began! Nor do I think God expects me to be. This is where the verse in 1 Thessalonians has been a challenge and moment of discovery. There is a framed picture at the front of our church with this verse on it. Sunday after Sunday, it has stared me in the face, prompting me to contemplate its full meaning. 

At first glance it's easy to interpret this instruction as being thankful for every situation. In fact that was my first thought, creating furious conflict in my soul. Indignant would be an understatement. God gently led me to understand I was in error and was not reading this verse accurately. We are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances, not for them. Upon realizing this distinction, the door was opened to the partnership between gratitude and grief. 

Although I am not thankful for how my writing began, I am thankful for being provided with this gift of communication. It has been instrumental in my personal grief journey, opening doors of healing and opportunity for service. I have much for which to be thankful as God has provided for every need over the past four years: people to support me, concrete needs, solutions to problems, direction and comfort. 

The relationship between gratitude and grief may seem somewhat paradoxical, but the reality is that they exist simultaneously. Gratitude can walk hand in hand with grief, providing clarity and encouragement on an arduous road. The cultivation of gratitude for God's loving provision is a powerful healing practice. 

Leanne Davidson is an author and blogger based in Kenora, Ontario. She resides with her husband, Tim, and their dogs, Milo and Millie. A 25-year educator and recipient of the OECTA Pearse Shannon Memorial Award, she also holds a certificate in “Death, Dying and Bereavement” from Wilfrid Laurier University. Following the 2022 accidental overdose of her son, Mikael, she became engaged in grief ministry, supporting others navigating similar experiences. Her website, www.amothersgriefjourney.com, provides resources, personal narratives, and access to her publications. She may be contacted at kenoralake4@gmail.com