Thank U, Next
By Ariana Grande
Thought I'd end up with Sean
But he wasn't a match
Wrote some songs about Ricky
Now I listen and laugh
Even almost got married
And for Pete, I'm so thankful
Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm
'Cause he was an angel
One taught me love
One taught me patience
And one taught me pain
Now, I'm so amazing
I've loved and I've lost
But that's not what I see
So, look what I got
Look what you taught me
And for that, I say
Thank you, next (next)
Thank you, next (next)
Thank you, next
I'm so grateful for my ex
Questions for discussion:
1. What traits does Ariana Grande value in herself and others?
2. What or who is she grateful for?
3. What does she mean when she says "thank you, next"?
(35) She (Leah) conceived again and bore a son, and declared, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
(27) The progression in Leah’s insights is demonstrated when at the birth of her fourth son, יהודה (Judah), she no longer prays for her husband’s love, but is full of gratitude, הפעם אודה את ה', “this time I thank the Lord, etc.” (Genesis 29,35).
Questions for discussion:
1. What or who is Leah grateful for?
2. Based on the translation of Judah's name as "full of gratitude," what might it mean that the Jews are named after him?
3. Both Ariana and Leah start by thanking their significant others, but end by thanking themselves or God. What is something in your life that you are thankful for from someone else? What is something you are thankful for in yourself?
What is Gratitude? Are you grateful? What are you grateful for?
Our research has led us to conclude that experiencing gratitude leads to increased feelings of connectedness, improved relationships, and even altruism… when people experience gratitude they feel more loving, more forgiving and closer to God. Gratitude, we have found, maximizes the enjoyment of the good – our enjoyment of others, of God, of our lives. Happiness is facilitated when we enjoy what we have been given, when we ‘want what we have’. ..
Gratitude elevates, it energizes, it inspires, it transforms. People are moved, opened, and humbled through experiences and expressions of gratitude. Gratitude provides life with meaning by encapsulating life itself as a gift. (Robert Emmons – Thanks! - page 12)
Questions for discussion:
1. What practices do you currently have in your life for expressing gratitude?
2. How can you express gratitude through music?
A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.
- Mordecai Kaplan, Not So Random Thoughts
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
- adapted from Antoine de Saint-Exupery