“AMEN SONGS”: Thankful (Kelly Clarkson)

Kelly Clarkson’s “Thankful” is a song of joy and humility, expressing appreciation for the blessings that come through love and support. With lyrics like “You’ve made me thankful for every single day” and “You made me believe again,” the song acknowledges how transformative gratitude can be—not only for what we receive, but for the way gratitude itself blesses us with renewed strength and perspective. In the context of our theme, “Amen – Be a Blessing,” Thankfulreminds us that true blessings are not only gifts we receive, but also the gratitude we express, which in turn uplifts others and deepens our spiritual connection.

Parashat Ekev is one of the Torah’s most powerful teachings on gratitude. Moses tells the Israelites that if they remain faithful and observe God’s commandments, they will continue to receive blessings in the land of Israel. But he also warns against forgetting the Source of their blessings when life becomes comfortable. The passage, “You shall eat and be satisfied, and bless the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10), captures the essence of Clarkson’s message: gratitude is not just an emotion—it is a sacred response to blessing, a spiritual discipline that keeps us grounded and aware.

In both Clarkson’s song and Ekev, we’re reminded that feeling blessed should lead us to be a blessing. Gratitude nurtures humility, deepens connection, and inspires us to care for others with generosity and joy. When we live in a state of thankfulness, we don’t just recognize what we’ve received—we multiply its goodness by passing it on. That is the heart of Amen – Be a Blessing: to take the light of what we’ve been given and reflect it outward with intention and love.