Thanksgiving Week

It is virtually impossible to give thanks for all we have. And when I say "we", I mean Americans. Most of us have come from such excess that our bounty has become normal. I'm sure some of you can name ways in which you did not come from excess, but it's really relative, is it not? It may not be excess compared to Donald Trump, but it is compared with people in other parts of the world.

What is our measure for being thankful this week? As we give thanks, what are we really thinking of? Our stuff? Do you give thanks for your material possessions? I am certainly thankful for my comfortable life. The fact that I have a warm, dry home when it's so cold outside. But let's be realistic, most Americans are two paychecks from being homeless. If you are giving thanks for material possessions, your thanksgiving could be very fleeting.

Give thanks for health? I know many people in my life right now who have been diagnosed at some point with cancer. I wonder if they are giving thanks for their health. the older I get, the more aches and pains I find I have. I am on a collision course with death, as we all are. With that in mind, it seems a bit shallow to give thanks for health.

How about family? Yes, we can certainly give thanks for family. Extended family that comes out of the woodwork on these major holidays. One in the name of food and the other in the name of gifts. I wonder how many visits and phone calls there are in between. Kind of like just going to church on Easter. It feels like more of a "have to" than a "want to".

I know I sound a bit cynical, but this Thanksgiving I want to be thankful for a constant, never changing, always there kind of thing. The only thing I can think of meeting that criteria is my salvation, given to me my the unchanging King of kings and Lord of lords - Jesus Christ. He is the giver of all good and perfect gifts, according to James 1:17. So, in a way, when I thank Christ for who He is, I am also thanking him for every good and perfect gift from above. That would include my job, house, car, health, family, children, husband, friends, conveniences, a strong mind ... there is nothing that doesn't fall into that category.

If you are not a follower of Christ, what better time is there than Thanksgiving to surrender control of your life to Him? Take it from me, it's great not to be the one in charge. It doesn't mean that bad things won't happen to you, or the people you love. That's just the nature of this life. But it does mean that you don't have to go through those things alone. When you believe in Jesus Christ to save you from the sins of this world, you get peace, strength, contentment, joy, hope, counseling, encouragement ... and best of all, eternal life with Him when the end finally does come.

Make this a true thanksgiving and thank HIM for all he has done, is doing, and is yet to do.