This Thanksgiving season we face several harsh realities—the ongoing election debacle, our biased media, civil unrest, indefinite restrictions as a result of COVID-19—I could go on and on.
As a result, many of the conversations around the Thanksgiving table this year will be similar to that of Statler and Waldorf. These were the two old guys on the Muppet Show. They would sit up in the balcony and just complain about everything in the show. In their cantankerous tone, these two would feed off of one another:
“Well, he wasn’t funny.”
“No, he wasn’t!”
This Thanksgiving, for at least one day, instead of griping and complaining, spend the day thanking God. We have so much to be thankful for and many of these blessings we take for granted every day. Thank the Lord for His mercy, His grace, good health, a warm house, a full closet, a soft bed, a packed freezer, a loving family, a good friend, a free country, an alert mind, a dependable job, and so much more. Even if some of those blessings do not describe your current situation, some of them surely do.
Most of all, be sure to give thanks for our wonderful Saviour.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.—2 Corinthians 9:15
Through His atoning death on the cross, Jesus has graciously provided us with the forgiveness of sin, the hope of eternal life, and an ultimate purpose for living every day.
Ingratitude is easy, that is what is in our sinful heart.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.—Romans 1:21
Through Christ, God has transformed our heart. Giving thanks to God is only proper response to His love, mercy and grace.
I believe of all the Christian virtues, thankfulness is one of the most important! In fact, thankfulness is a part of God’s will for your life.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.—1 Thessalonians 5:18
But this virtue of thankfulness has to be cultivated. This takes work, energy, and intentionality.
So this Thanksgiving, let’s flip the script. Instead of long discussions about political differences which are sure to end in a screaming contest, aim to turn all of our conversations on how thankful we are to the Lord. For all that He has done for us.
