I have to be so thankful. I have two kids, my beautiful wife

Hear the words of Jeremy Camp, a man who has walked through the valleys of grief and the heights of joy, who declared: “I have to be so thankful. I have two kids, my beautiful wife, I’m just blown away at God’s grace and God’s faithfulness.” These words, though spoken in simplicity, resound like a psalm from the ancients. They speak of thankfulness, of the blessings of family, and of the enduring mystery of God’s grace and faithfulness. In them we find a wisdom that transcends one man’s life and calls to all generations.

The first jewel is thankfulness. Jeremy Camp begins not with entitlement, but with humility: “I have to be so thankful.” Gratitude, for him, is not optional—it is the proper posture of one who has received far more than he deserves. Gratitude transforms the soul, teaching it to see blessings where others see burdens, and joy where others see only routine. To say “I have to be thankful” is to acknowledge that thanksgiving is not merely a feeling but a duty, an offering of the heart back to the Giver of all things.

The second truth lies in his mention of his family. He speaks of his two children and his wife, not as possessions or accomplishments, but as gifts. In the ancient world, family was regarded as the very center of blessing—a sign of prosperity, legacy, and divine favor. Even kings measured their greatness not only by their conquests, but by the households they built and the generations they raised. By honoring his family in this way, Camp proclaims that true wealth is not found in gold or fame, but in love that endures within the home.

The third flame is his astonishment at God’s grace. He says he is “blown away”—as though overwhelmed, unable to fully comprehend the vastness of mercy shown to him. Grace, in Christian teaching, is unmerited favor: blessings we did not earn, forgiveness we did not deserve, and love that covers our failings. To be “blown away” by grace is to realize that one’s life, in all its beauty, is not the fruit of human striving alone, but of divine generosity poured out beyond measure.

The fourth jewel is his recognition of God’s faithfulness. For grace is the gift, but faithfulness is the endurance of that gift over time. Camp has endured tragedy—the loss of his first wife to cancer—and yet even in sorrow, he testifies that God’s faithfulness never left him. To speak of God’s faithfulness is to say: “Even when I was broken, He did not abandon me. Even when I could not see the way forward, He carried me.” This is the language of the ancients who declared, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

History bears witness to this same truth. Consider the story of Job, the ancient patriarch who lost his wealth, his children, and his health, yet still declared: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Though his life was shaken to its core, he came to see that God’s faithfulness endured beyond his trials. Like Job, Jeremy Camp bears testimony that even through suffering, the hand of God still holds, still restores, still blesses beyond imagining.

The lesson for us is this: live in thankfulness, honor your family as sacred gifts, and never lose sight of God’s grace and faithfulness, even when trials come. For life is not measured by riches or accolades, but by love received and given, by the blessings that flow through grace, and by the trust that the One who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

Practically, let us begin each day with a prayer of gratitude—naming not only the great victories but the small mercies. Let us cherish our families, speaking words of love often, and treating them as treasures entrusted to us. And in times of trial, let us remember that faithfulness is not the absence of hardship, but the presence of God within it. By living in this spirit, our lives become testimonies of grace, just as Jeremy Camp’s words reflect.

Thus his declaration shines like an ancient teaching: be thankful always, rejoice in your family, and stand in awe of God’s grace and faithfulness. For in this spirit, the soul finds peace, the heart finds joy, and the life of a mortal man is crowned with eternal meaning.