A Day to Be Grateful

Thanksgiving Day should be a time of gratitude.  We can give thanks for so many things.  God blesses us in so many ways that we tend to forget most of them.

Somewhere in our country, there is someone complaining about "having" to fix Thanksgiving dinner.  Yesterday, I saw a story on the news about a single-mother whose family couldn't afford a Thanksgiving dinner, and who didn't even have a table to sit around.  A restaurant in her area not only provided a 5 course meal, they also had a table delivered to her house.  I'm sure she is grateful for the generosity of others, but I bet she would have been grateful if she could have done it on her own.  Take time to be grateful for the ability to prepare a meal (even though it is hard work that may go unappreciated).

There is probably someone at this very moment complaining about their company, while someone else is grieving over an empty place setting, because that person isn't coming back.  It so easy to forget that time is short.  We always assume that there will be a tomorrow in which we can get everything worked out.  But who knows if we will live to see tomorrow?  Take time to be thankful for the people in your life (even the annoying ones).

There is probably someone complaining about those noisy, rowdy kids who are running through the house, while someone else is weeping because they don't hear the pitter-patter of little feet.  We tend to forget how much we wished we had kids before we got them.  We dreamed of all they would be, thought of how cute they would look in this or that outfit, and how smart they would be.  Having children brings your head out of the clouds as you realize that there is this little person who is completely independent of you, yet dependent on you, and for whom you are responsible.  They need lots of attention, food, and someone to clean up after them.  It's not all fashion shows and spelling bees, but it is so worth it.  Take time to be thankful for the children in your life (even the noisy ones).

Gratitude is a wonderful feeling.  We should all feel grateful.  But it wasn't meant to be undirected.  Gratitude is an emotion that is to be expressed toward someone.  In particular, gratitude is meant to be directed toward God.  To paraphrase James, all good gifts come from our heavenly Father.  Thanksgiving Day is a day to reflect on the glorious grace of God, and to offer up prayers of thanks and praise in his name.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you take the time to thank God for all he has done for you.  May God continue to bless you and keep you.