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"Thankful" by Lowen: The Practice of Being Thankful


Lowen's "Thankful" isn't one of those typical feel-good gratitude songs. Life is good most of the time… and even when it hurts, there's often something quietly waiting inside the pain, like a lesson, a softening, or a deeper understanding. Lowen found inspiration for this song in what Stephen Colbert once said, "… he learned to love the thing he most wished had never happened, and that simply being here is a gift. Gratitude means holding all of it, not just the easy parts." 

Lowen - ThankfulThe lyrics open with a warm anchor: "Every day that I wake, I just feel so thankful." We're encouraged not to flinch from the messy middle. This is not about ignoring life's quakes! Lowen admits, "honesty is telling me I need space" when the world feels unsteady. In other words, the gratitude that Lowen sings about isn't about forcing a smile through pain — it's about meeting every moment (including the hard moments) with presence, care, and respect. Because they belong to the story too.

The song pushes back against the rush to chase "more than dreaming." Have you ever let the noise of your "magical dream" drown out the gift of right now? Lowen's answer is simple: take small steps and deep breaths, and show your thankfulness intentionally."(Take it slow, take it slow) // Small steps, small steps // Gonna take a deep breath, deep breath // I'm thankful." 

Go ahead and press play on "Thankful" today. May its message wrap around you, and remind you that every part of your story - all of the joy, every struggle, and the quiet pauses - is actually a gift to hold close.

(Related scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 107:1; Philippians 4:6)

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PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Christian Music Today also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://medium.com/christian-music-today/

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