Written by Daniel
Darling, pastor and author
What
are you thankful for? We gather, every year at this time, to reflect on the
blessings of God over the past year. But in most families, Thanksgiving is less
about real gratitude and more about stuffing your face, watching football, and
hanging with the family. Some actually dread Thanksgiving, because they're
forced to sit in a room with people they really don't enjoy.
Now
I'm all in favor of the food and the football. But this year, let's make
Thanksgiving about giving and about thanks. This year, more than any, might force
us to dig deeper. For many, it will mark a year since they've had employment. For
others, Thanksgiving will bring another reminder that they haven't found that
significant other. And there are those couples who have to face the family
questions of why they still don’t have children.
For
many, this was a year marked by pain. So how do we summon the gratitude? Well,
if you're a Christian, your basis is not your circumstances, but something
greater. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica that they could "give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ."
In
other words, followers of Christ believe that hardship is a grace gift from the
Lord, sent for their growth, sanctification, and further intimacy with the
Almighty. We don't believe we're here on this earth all alone. We believe God
is firmly in charge. Though life may get hard--and it does--it all falls
under God's sovereign will. And so we give thanks.
As
Americans, we really have cause for gratitude. I have to periodically remind
myself of this and remind my family. We so easily get caught up in the easy
lust for more stuff. Bigger house, nicer car, better clothes, newest gadgets.
But then I remember my travels to third world countries, where I've seen real
poverty--and real gratitude on the part of the Christians there.
Tonight,
my kids will go to bed with full stomachs. They'll have a roof over their
heads. They will have two parents in the next room. They will ride in a nice
car. They will have a future that includes a good education. All of those are
things most kids in the world don't have. And so, they should be
grateful.
Let's
not sit around the table carping about the election, complaining about our job
status, whining about injustices from friends. Let's instead reset our
gratitude meters and offer genuine, heartfelt thanks to God. For salvation in
Christ. For His daily care. And for friends and family He graciously provides.
Oh, and for wives that allow us to stuff our faces and watch football.
Provided
by Diane Feaganes
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