Ever seen one of those Russian nesting doll sets? You open the first doll and there is another inside and another inside that one. In all,  there might be 5-7 dolls in some sets.

“Eucharisteo” is similar. It is a power-packed, three-in-one, kind of word.

The “eucharist” – the time when Jesus gave thanks at the last supper. “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks [eucharisteo], he broke it and gave it to them…” Luke 22:19

Imagine – giving thanks at a time when Jesus knew His time was extremely limited. He gave thanks knowing that He would soon become the true passover lamb and lay down His life for ours. He gave thanks hours before His hands and feet and brow and side would be pierced-through for our sins.

Eucharisteo – a word within a word within a word.

Eucharisteo – to give thanks, to be thankful

Charis – Grace

Chara – Joy

Joy wrapped in grace wrapped in thanks. 

Could this be the secret pathway to the joy for which everyone is looking? Joy seems so elusive. Once we think we have it, it slips out of our hands very quickly.

What if we started an intentional practice of living thankfully – and not just on Thanksgiving – but everyday living in a perpetual state of thankfulness? This may give us the joy the Savior promised, joy that overflows (John 15:11).

…in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                                    1 Thessalonians 5:18

But to have joy, we must pass through grace – kindness or favor – as a gift of Jesus Christ. Yes, grace stands between our thanks and our joy, just as Jesus stands between us and our sins.

What if we increased our thankfulness? Would it increase our joy? Is there a direct correlation between the two? If we “in everything give thanks”, then our circumstances would not dictate our joy, but rather, our thankfulness would.

I believe there is a direct correlation – but prove it for yourself. As the old song says, “Count Your Blessings, Name them One by One.”

Eucharist (thanksgiving) is the state of the perfect man. Eucharist is the life of paradise. Eucharist is the only full and real response of man to God’s creation, redemption, and gift of heaven. ~ Alexander Schemermann, from 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

Happy Eucharisteo!