Thanksgiving

Most years, it seems, Thanksgiving is a holiday that simply gets swallowed up by everything else going on. Most of us probably still do something on the holiday, spending time with family and friends, eating turkey and stuffing, but it almost feels like a side-note to Christmas. In fact, many have already begun playing Christmas songs and setting up yuletide décor. And that’s fine, Christmas is important, but I also believe that Thanksgiving is very important, too.
And, obviously, celebrating and recognizing the birth of our Savior Jesus should be highlighted but the idea of being thankful is essential to our lives, too. In fact, thankfulness is often an antidote to many of our problems, especially problems that we as Americans face. Most of us have much, much more in our lives than most of the rest of the world and most people throughout history have had. And not just possessions and resources, but (in general) with our health and our connections and our freedoms, we simply have more than most. But often having more of these things can easily make us complacent. It actually makes us greedier and more self-focused. It can also make us more anxious and frustrated. If we didn’t have those things available to us, life could be a little simpler.
Lately I’ve noticed that when I have a good thing, I often want more of it. And that longing for more leaves me feeling that I’m missing something. And that missing and longing can often lead to sadness and even frustration. And if I didn’t have that good thing to begin with, I wouldn’t have those negative emotions associated with it. And so, what’s the answer? It could be not having good things, right? And, honestly, sometimes as a parent, I think that is the best answer. But another answer is being thankful for what we do have.
In Romans 1.21 we are given a warning about an attitude of not being thankful. Paul writes, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (ESV) It’s interesting that Paul correlates NOT honoring God and giving him thanks as being the reasons people’s hearts were darkened. But I think we can all relate to that, right? When we fail to slow down and be truly thankful for what we have, what God has truly provided, even having lots of good things can make us sad and frustrated and alone.
And so, before we get to Christmas this year, I challenge you to make a list of all the good things you have in this life (and maybe even some of the troubles) and find a way to thank God for them, and in turn honor him as well. God bless.