Thanksgiving – Yes, this is the weekend when we here in Canada celebrate a holiday we call Thanksgiving. I also realize that this day has different meanings for each individual….some see it as a great time to connect as family, enjoying wonderful food and laughter; for others it is simply a holiday from work and school. And for some it is a deeply spiritual event as they reflect on and give thanks for the work of grace and transformation that God has done in their lives.
So, what will this day we call Thanksgiving mean for you? I suspect that if we polled 10 individuals, we may receive ten different responses, or possibly 10 different responses from each person if we gave them time.
It is good to be thankful, to live with a heart of thanksgiving. Giving thanks impacts my perspective of life, my attitude toward a specific task, and yes, my attitude toward others. Does that mean it is always easy to be thankful? No, not for me anyway. And yet, over and over in scripture, God calls us to give thanks including this statement from our friend Paul, “…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:18 (NKJ). How about that as a challenge for each day!
I encourage you to read the following two portions of scripture, reflect on them, and again ask yourself, “what will this day we call Thanksgiving mean for me?”. Invite God to stretch you and refine your perspectives of living with a spirit of thanksgiving. God bless you as you do this.
Psalm 100 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
Yes, give THANKS! Let that thought permeate your heart and mind.