THE ART OF GRATITUDE | Day 2
Gratitude in Ordinary Work

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17 (NRSVUE)

In Jean-François Millet's painting The Angelus, two farm workers have stopped their work in a field. Their tools and a basket of potatoes rest nearby. Their heads are bowed in prayer.

Millet was inspired by memories of his grandmother, who would pause when the church bells rang, reminding those working in the fields to pray.

What makes this painting remarkable is its simplicity. There is no grand cathedral, no elaborate ceremony, no extraordinary event. Just two people, standing in a field, taking a moment to acknowledge something greater than themselves.

How often do we think of gratitude as something reserved for special occasions? Thanksgiving dinner. A birthday. A celebration. An answered prayer. But Paul reminds the Colossians that gratitude belongs in everything we do.

Perhaps we can learn something from these two workers. In the middle of our busy days, we can pause long enough to recognize the gifts that make our daily lives possible. And perhaps we can remember with gratitude those whose work so often goes unnoticed.

Who is someone whose everyday work makes your life better? Have you thanked them lately?

Art & Faith Initiative | First Presbyterian Church, Beatrice, Nebraska

Artwork: Jean-François Millet, The Angelus, 1857–1859. Musée d'Orsay, Paris.