Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we may hear more people talk about being thankful than at other times of the year. Thanksgiving Day is a reminder to all of us to think about how much we have to be thankful for and to honestly say “thank you” for it. Some might struggle to find reasons to give thanks. Others may joyfully recount all their blessings. But no matter which end of the spectrum you’re on, there is always something to be thankful for.
Did the sun rise this morning? Even if it was obscured by clouds, it rose. And for that we can be thankful. Take a deep breath. For that we can be thankful. Even the most fundamental things in life offer us reasons to be thankful if we take a moment to recognize them.
Thankfulness is an attitude that we must maintain. It doesn’t happen automatically; we must choose to be thankful. And that choice often starts with making the effort to notice and appreciate our surroundings. We need to pay attention to the things around us, to the people around us, and most importantly to God, who is always around us. Simple things may be taken for granted or appreciated. The choice is ours. However, taking anything (especially God!) for granted profits nothing. But appreciation is the basis of a thankful lifestyle.
But it can get tricky. Society teaches us to not appreciate what we have or who we are by taunting us with things that we can’t afford and physical attributes that we don’t have. The decision to appreciate God, and all the good in our lives is almost always in direct opposition to what society is propounding. The evil in this world would like to keep us miserable, but being thankful can impede those efforts. Thankfulness brings peace and rejoicing into our lives.
Sometimes we face hardships; some are difficult, others are devasting. It may seem impossible to be thankful at those times. But we can weather those storms by looking toward a victorious outcome. We are not thankful for the hardship, but we can be thankful to God for His help to get us through it. Prayer gives us that ability. Our prayerful requests with thanksgiving to God give us peace that guards our minds.* And when we receive our victory, rejoicing abounds.
Consider the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. The Pilgrims who came to this country to escape religious persecution in Europe suffered tremendous hardships on their voyage to the New World. By the end of their first year of settling here, nearly half of their company had died and many of those who remained were weak or sick. But through prayer and believing they survived and prospered. And at harvest time, they celebrated the abundance that they had received with great thanksgiving. That thankfulness eased the memories of the hardships that they had endured. Our thankfulness can do the same.
Another essential element of thankfulness is expressing it. We cannot be silent in our giving of thanks. We must thank people when they bless us. It is the polite thing to do but much more than that, it is our way of giving back. It is a healthy response for both speaker and hearer. Wouldn’t your heart break if you never heard a word of thanks? Bear that in mind the next time someone does something nice for you. And of course, God wants to hear our words of thanks. Prayer and praise to God are an integral part of our relationship with Him. And if anyone deserves our thanks, it is God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy! God, who satisfies our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s; God, who gave us His only begotten son so that we could be saved and have eternal life ** – that God deserves all of our thanks all of the time!
When we live a thank-filled life, we are blessed. Not only are we recognizing the good that surrounds us rather than focusing on all the bad, but we’re also recognizing that God is our sufficiency, and that He meets our needs. We are allowing God to open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on us. I heard it said that a lifestyle of thanksgiving is “thanks-living”. Isn’t that the way we want to live? Let’s be thankful for all that we’ve been given, for all that we have and for all that we will receive. Praise God with lips of thankfulness and joyfully receive all the bounty that He has to give. Then, as we give to others with a blessed and thankful heart, the cycle will start all over again.
Isn’t it wonderful that our country has set aside a day for giving thanks? In the hustle and bustle of daily living it is easy to forget to say thanks for all the things that bless our lives. So let’s take advantage of the opportunity that Thanksgiving Day affords us; and be especially thankful to our God and Father for His goodness, for His extraordinary kindness, and for His mercy that endures forever!
Scripture references:
* Philippians 4:6,7
** 1 Timothy 6:17, Psalm 103:5, John 3:16
Note to my readers: HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING! Thanks for reading!