Americans will wake up this morning to a celebration of Thanksgiving, but what that means to each individual will vary and it can change from year to year. Your plans may be similar to mine beginning with a pumpkin spiced coffee while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade followed by a breakfast of orange spiced waffles with cranberry compote. My husband and I will make at least three Thanksgiving celebrations enjoying the day with family and friends and stuffing our bellies with every relatives signature dish. In the south there is always Turkey and Dressing (it’s not called stuffing down here!) cranberry sauce, sweet potato’s, enough casseroles to fill a church cookbook, and pumpkin pie. We will share our blessings and all that we are thankful for and then end the day thinking of our Christmas wish list.
But giving thanks shouldn’t be reserved for just one day nor should gratitude and counting our blessings be reserved for the good and easy. The bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5 to “rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. That does not mean that we have to give thanks for everything but in everything. We were taught from our youth to say, “thank you” when we receive a gift; the response is easy because the gift is often something we wanted and as we grow older, it becomes a habit and natural response. To give thanks in everything is not so easy; but through practice and prayer, we will become more aware of God’s presence, power, and control in every situation. Eventually being thankful in will become a natural response to the uncontrollable situations too. I read once, “When we learn to be thankful in any circumstance we will be able to find a blessing in any situation”. That means we are to be thankful for, thankful even though, thankful despite, but most of all thankful because of. Because of God’s gift of his son that has conquered death and has given us eternal life. Because despite the woes of this world we can cling to his promises; “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me”.
Holidays can be hard times. This Thanksgiving you might be struggling with the #blessedlife everywhere you look. This may not be the happiest Thanksgiving you have had. You may be missing a loved one, battling a sickness, struggling with a job loss or in your marriage, hurt by a friend, or just feeling over whelmed or disappointed in life remember today to fix your eyes on him instead.
“Oh, turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace
His word shall not fail you, He promised Believe Him and all will be well”
Happy Thanksgiving Friends!
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