Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  It is my favorite holiday of the season.  After tomorrow we will begin to decorate for Christmas, but we have held off until now.  We do all we can to make this a special day.

            We will have family with us.  It will be a small gathering, and we will make sure those present have not been sick. But we will certainly enjoy our time together as we eat too much, watch parades and football, and spend time both laughing and crying at all we have experienced this year.

            How do you give thanks in the midst of a pandemic?  I am reminded that Paul said to the Thessalonian Christians, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice he did not say, “For everything,” but, “in everything.” There is a subtle difference between the two.

            Paul was a man who gave thanks, and experienced joy, even as he suffered in so many ways.  He wrote the book of Philippians from prison, and yet spoke of joy and rejoicing and thanksgiving throughout.  Near the end of that book he wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” 

            Have you learned to be content, no matter what? In so many ways that is the epitome of gratitude.  We realize that God is good, and that He has shown us His love. And we give Him thanks, even when life is not going according to plan. We understand that we don’t understand all of the whys for our circumstances. But we understand that God still loves us, and He is watching over us, and so we give thanks to Him in every situation.

            Tomorrow I will likely lead in prayer over dinner. I will be extra careful to give thanks.  I know that God is trustworthy. He is faithful.  And He is with us in all that we do.  I pray that I will live in a manner that expresses my gratitude at all times. I pray the same for you.

            Happy Thanksgiving.