A good writing pen.

Yes. I give thanks for a good writing pen. I dare say not many folks like a good pen more than I do.  I collect them.

And so it occurs to me the pretty, colorful barrels, the clips, all the pretty outside things do not a good pen make.

It’s what’s inside the barrel that makes it write well, or not.  Gel or ballpoint, the point is the point.  Some points give you a smooth, no drag, just a thrill to dance across the page.

Yep. It’s that filler inside that controls what is seen on the outside.

Scripture has a few things to say about inside and outside.

28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. source Matthew 23 NLT

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  source 2 Corinthians 4 (NKJV)

4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.  source 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT)

So above all things we can give thanks for what’s on the inside – if what’s on the inside is JESUS.  Reminds me of that pumpkin story.

A lady recently being baptized was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian. She replied, "It's like being a pumpkin: 
God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins.
Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.
Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."  source

I like pumpkin.   🙂

So for what are you giving thanks today?