“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

Autumn is a time of gratitude. The leaves on the trees are beautiful. We sing “Great is thy faithfulness” and remind ourselves about the good people in our lives—whether that be family, friends, fellow church members, classmates or coworkers. We give thanks for hard-working farmers and food producers and ask God to bless them.

In the Middle Ages, Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: “even if I could multiply myself a thousand times and give Him everything, it would still fall short of what He has given me.”*

Imagine multiplying yourself a thousand times so that there wasn’t just one of you, but one thousand of you. And then imagine every one of those yous giving everything you had back to God as a sign of your gratitude. 

Wow, that is someone who is thankful!

Bernard was thinking not only about his blessings in general, but specifically what Jesus had done for him.

One of the things I’ve noticed is that it is much easier to focus on our problems then on our blessings. I get it. There are days when I need to slap myself in the face and remind myself of the bigger picture. That’s why intentionally thinking about everything Christ has done for us is a much-needed daily reminder of the unceasing goodness of God in a world that can threaten our peace of mind with it’s darkness.

Think of the cross. Christ has already given you what matters most come what may. Be glad. Say thank you.

“Even if I could multiply myself a thousand times and give Him everything, it would still fall short of what He has given me.”

Notes:

-*Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God, trans. Catherine Rose (2025), 20.
-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on October 27, 2025.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.