... with giving of thanks

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice.
Let your softness be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication
let your petitions be manifest unto God with giving of thanks.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu. (Philippians 4:4-7, my emphasis)

I think that the above translation is from the Great Bible. It is certainly from the fine sixteenth century anthem on this text, which we sang for the Eucharist on Sunday, wherein this was part of the Epistle.

After Sunday's service of Lessons and Carols described in the previous essay, I was worn out and a little discouraged about my musicianship. Since then, four people whom I respect, all of them musicians or clergy, have expressed their thanks to me and the choir for the service, telling me that it was meaningful for them. Two of them commented particularly on the little instrumental arrangement that I mentioned.

While Pride is always a danger when people speak well of your work, it remains helpful to say “Thank you.” Hearing and reading those words helped me today; these words can help almost anyone.

We are made in the image of God. One cannot take the converse very far without wandering far astray, but it is not too much of a stretch to think that God is likewise pleased when we say “thank you” (cf. St. Luke 17:11-19, the ten lepers). He does not need our encouragement – or does he? As the Body of Christ, I wonder whether we have some part in “fill[ing] up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24). Might it be that our poor efforts and prayers – and giving of thanks, most of all in the Great Thanksgiving, the Holy Eucharist – have helped our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the dark places in his journey, in a manner not altogether foreign from the way in which we “bear one another's burdens” by encouraging each other in the dark places in our journeys?

That is probably indeed too much of a stretch; God is immutable, and the work of Christ is entire and complete without anything from us – indeed, we have nothing to offer. Still, it doesn't hurt to leaven our prayers and our lives “with giving of thanks,” both to God and to the people we encounter every day.