Dad liked to use a jar illustration to help people diagnose the quality of their thoughts and words. Picture a large glass jar in which you can inspect all the contents. Imagine putting your thoughts and comments in the jar for daily analysis. One day, after meeting with someone who told negative story after negative story, my Dad said to me, “I hurt for this person because they don’t know the world they are building with their mouth. Imagine their glass jar— it would be filled with putrid content. If they could use their imagination to visualize the toxicity of their words, it may help them see the danger.”

In Colossians 2, there is a beautiful illustration. It says to overflow with thankfulness. What would it mean to have my “jar” overflow with gratitude? How would this affect my friends and family?  

Psalm 103 was consistently my Dad’s favorite Psalm. He loved to take time to meditate on each of the benefits this Psalm innumerates. Time with Dad would look something like this: “Let’s think about the first benefit: ‘He forgives all your sins.’ Let’s both take some time to consider these questions and then connect. Why is this benefit the first on the list for the Psalmist? How has being forgiven given you a spirit of praise and gratitude? What is one-way sin influences the way you speak and one-way forgiveness influences the way you speak?”

Beautiful questions: Thank you, Dad; just like you made the principles of basketball practical for so many people, you also made the Bible practical for me. I choose to overflow with thankfulness today. 

Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, Bless his Name. Bless the Lord O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits.

 “Keep your roots deep in Christ and established in faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:7

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