Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday but not because of the traditional food, football and parades, afternoon turkey induced coma, or amazing sales. I enjoy gathering with loved ones, reminiscing about the year, and taking time to be thankful.
I know thankfulness is an action we should participate in everyday, not just the month of November. And I truly try to show my thankfulness to God at the end of each day. But some days are easier than others. Sometimes when we look around, the circumstances seem too great to give thanks. We might think, “Surely we aren’t supposed to be thankful for this!”
The Apostle Paul had his share of trials. Imprisoned and beaten, Paul suffered many physical difficulties yet in Philippians 4, he reminds us, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (vv 11-12) Verse 13 reminds us where he is getting the ability to persevere: “I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me.” A few books later, he tells us in I Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Clearly thankfulness is something that should resonate easily with Christians. So why is it so often difficult to name our blessings? Sometimes it might be because we are looking at the world’s definition of what should make us thankful: nice house, new car, perfect health, happy family, money, good job. While it’s not wrong to be thankful for these things if we have them, as Christians we need to realize things in and of themselves are not responsible for our happiness and should not be the basis for what we are thankful for. Because of what God has already given us {salvation, grace, forgiveness} everything else in this world can’t compare.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving with all the traditions and fun and food, let us take time to be thankful for this past year and honestly count our blessings, remembering to give thanks in all things.
Photo by Alfred Schrock on Unsplash