(The following is an expansion on an article I wrote for the church newsletter.)
Do you have your ‘holiday’ on… or are you getting there? To me, the end of October ushers in the start of ‘The Holiday season’. I know Christmas gift ideas and decorations have been up for weeks (sadly, Thanksgiving seems to have gotten lost in the rush.) I am and was brought up with a great fondness for Thanksgiving. I know many still honor this day and don’t look on it as the day before the biggest shopping day of the year – Black Friday. Black? A bit sinister sounding… or do you only honor Cyber Tuesday?
But before that mad dash… how do you celebrate Thanksgiving? What do you do? Is there time given to remember all the blessings of the previous year? Sooooo… how do you want to celebrate this Thanksgiving – planning your shopping strategy for Friday or taking the time to ‘count your blessings, one by one’? Remembering and relating all the wonderful things that have happened to you in the previous year is one way to celebrate. No fond remembrances? Really? Is it more of a case of not recognizing the Lord’s hand?
If for no other reason, ‘society’ recommends you have a ‘gratitude’ list and also indicates 10 reasons why being grateful is good for us. However, I believe there’s a better way. Look at all the scriptures that tell us to be thankful.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever.” (1Chronicles 16:34)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Those are only 2 of over 30 scriptures that talk about being thankful. Thanksgiving is one time to remember, and perhaps recite them to yourself.
Better yet… apply the suggestion to keep Christmas in your heart all year and remember/recite all the people and ‘things’ you are grateful for… daily.
