Thursday, November 24, 2011

Take Time To Be Thankful

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

-- Psalm 118:28

What are you thankful for today? Family, friends, home, health, job. The list likely could go on and on. Most of us today will eat too much. We may watch a little football. We’ll likely share a few laughs. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll take a few moments to thank God for all He’s given us.

It’s a lot different from that first Thanksgiving back in 1621. The Pilgrims, as they’ve come to be called, were thankful for health and food. They’d come over the year before and endured a harsh winter. Only half of the Mayflower’s passengers and crew lived to see that first spring.

But some wonderful people from the Wampanoag tribe took pity on the settlers and taught them how to plant and grow crops, how to fish, how to thrive in the new land. And the two groups celebrated a fine harvest that November.

The Pilgrims had traveled to this land for different reasons. Some sought the opportunity to freely practice their faith. Others sought prosperity. Some wanted the chance to own land. Whatever their dreams, they no doubt were filled with gratitude that first Thanksgiving.

Sometimes I wonder if we know what heartfelt gratitude really means. We’re so busy looking forward to what we want in the future, that we don’t always take time to look around and see what we have today. We never let ourselves be content with where we are. We never seem to let that peace settle over us.

So what are you thankful for today? I’m grateful that we live in a country where Bibles are plentiful and we can worship wherever we choose. I’m grateful that we can freely express our opinions without fear of prison. I’m grateful that I have plenty of food to eat in a world, in a country, where people go hungry every day. I’m thankful for overall good health. I’m thankful for the eyeglasses that help me see. I’m thankful for clean drinking water. I could go on and on. When I start naming my blessings, I can’t seem to stop. God has been so very good to me. I am grateful for my blessings.

This Thanksgiving I’ll probably eat too much. And I’ll laze around and plot my Christmas shopping strategy. But I also want to take time to thank God, really thank Him, for the blessings He has bestowed on me. I am so grateful that He calls me His. I am thankful that one day I’ll be celebrating in God’s Presence. I have quite a bit to be thankful for. How about you?