Thanksgiving is over. The dishes are done (hopefully), the leftovers are gone (probably), and the calendar just got even busier (certainly). If we’re not careful, any gratitude we felt over the last few days will get buried under Amazon boxes, year-end deadlines, and kids’ wish lists.

Colossians 2:6-7 shows us that thanksgiving isn’t meant to be a one-day pause; it’s meant to overflow from a dad who walks with Jesus every single day. Let’s break this passage into three phrases and get practical.

#1 So walk in him (v. 6). Paul said, “[A]s you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…” You started your journey by faith, not performance—and that’s how you keep going.

Like walking the neighborhood with your kid, they didn’t earn the walk; they just put their hand in yours. That’s the picture. The grateful dad keeps putting his hand in Christ’s, even when money’s tight, or the house is loud.

#2 Rooted and built up in him (v. 7a). “Rooted” and “built up” paint a picture of steady, quiet growth—like deep roots that hold in a storm or a foundation poured before walls go up.

Gratitude grows when your stability is in Christ, not in how smooth life feels. A grounded dad stays steady. Your kids won’t remember every gift this year (or any year), but they will remember whether you stayed connected to the Vine. Even in hard Decembers, let them see you turn to Scripture, pray, and trust God’s faithfulness.

#3 Abounding in thanksgiving (v. 7b). “Abounding” isn’t polite manners or a quick prayer—it’s overflow. Paul says that gratitude should spill out of a life grounded in Christ. Would your family say you’re thankful, or do they mostly hear complaints about the news, money, or weather?

Thankfulness is a test of faith; growing in Christ produces recognizable gratitude and humility. And when a dad overflows with thanksgiving, comparison and entitlement lose their grip. Your home breathes a different air quality that filters everything and recognizes, “We already have more than we deserve.”

The Definition of Lust in the Bible: A grateful heart walks closely with God, but lust tries to pull it away. Lust can be a real struggle, but as Christians, we can stand against it using the truth and power found in God’s Word. When a dad guards his heart and flees temptation, he models a better path for his family—one rooted in truth, not hidden sin.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: Gratitude isn’t just something we say—it’s something our kids need to see. My cohost Lawson and I walk through eight ways to anchor your heart in thankfulness using the word GRATEFUL. You’ll hear stories, Scripture, and simple ways to shift your family from comparison to contentment this season.

Elisabeth Elliot: “It is always possible to be thankful for what is given, rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other will become a habit of life.”

For most of the guys reading this, you may not control the economy, your company’s decisions, or family drama, but you can choose how you walk.

Colossians 2:6-7 calls us to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him, and abounding in thanksgiving. This week, connect a simple prayer to something “ordinary”—your morning coffee, commute, or dog walk. Pray something like: “Jesus, I’m walking with You.”

Also, with your kids, at dinner or before bed, name one seemingly small thing you’re grateful for. Your kids need a dad whose steady gratitude rests in Christ, not in perfect circumstances—through every pressure and deadline.

Kent Evans
Author of Don’t Bench Yourself, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.