“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, because it seems like it has not been contaminated with commercialization. It’s all about being thankful, spending time with family, and enjoying great food. It also reminds me to stop the rat race and be thankful for my Savior, family, friends and teammates.

Over the past 10 years traveling in many countries, I am blown away how thankful people are around the world. It is humbling to be in environments where I would be ungrateful, negative and depressed; and instead, I meet people who are serving Christ who are thankful, positive and enthusiastic.  

They have gratitude oozing from them. They don’t let anything or anyone rob them of being thankful for what they do have – not being ungrateful for what they don’t have. It is a sober reminder.

This Thanksgiving, let’s all be thankful leaders. Below is something I wrote about being a Thankful Leader.

The Thankful Leader

 As a thankful leader, every day is Thanksgiving. 

Your heart is overflowing with thanksgiving, because you are abundantly grateful of God’s blessings.

You have a deep conviction that your gifts, talents and skills to serve and lead come from God alone.

You realize that every interaction, appointment and conversation is a response to God’s goodness, and the way you lead is marked with “Thank you God!”

You are simply grateful for the gift to lead.

Your service and sacrifice is an offering of thanks to God.

There is no room for pride in a heart full of thanksgiving – a thankful leader is a humble leader.

You don’t try to impress others when you are thankful that God is making an impact through you.

You don’t care if you are at the top or not when you are overwhelmed with gratitude at simply being able to lead.

You don’t put unrealistic expectations on others when you realize God’s grace on your life.

You don’t care about being better than or above others when your definition of success is becoming more like Jesus every day.

You are not consumed with what others think of you when you are overcome with the fact that God is your Audience of One.

You don’t demand attention when your attention is on others.

You don’t hide your weaknesses when you know that when you are weak then God is strong.

You don’t criticize others when you believe the best about them.

You don’t look at others as worthless when you are thankful that God has wonderfully made them. 

You don’t have to please others when you already feel God’s pleasure when you lead.

You don’t seek glory and recognition when your goal is to glorify the One who made you.

You don’t have to impress others when you are leading with all your heart as for the Lord.

With a grateful heart, much can be accomplished. Let the power of thanksgiving change the way you lead. A great leader is a thankful leader.

“Father, I want to be thankful. Whatever I do or say, I will do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to You, Father. Change me into the person you have designed me to be – overflowing with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”