Thanksgiving...A Holiday for Every Day

Thanksgiving...A Holiday for Every Day.jpgI love Thanksgiving. I love the noisy chatter of family all throughout the house. I love how we talk about old times and recall special memories of Thanksgivings past, and yes, I even love turkey (I’m an expert carver!) and that Jello® salad with marshmallows and nuts that my mother-in-law makes. But most of all I love the fact that while we gather as a family to focus our thoughts on all we have to be thankful for, every day is Thanksgiving when you have Jesus Christ as your Savior.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and all near-chaos that often accompanies this season, I want to take a few minutes to remind us all that Thanksgiving is a holiday we can celebrate every single day of our lives.

David knew what it meant to be thankful every day. It didn’t matter whether David was experiencing victory, grief, joy, turmoil, or peace. David was always thankful.

A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. ~Psalm 100:1-5

Paul was thankful in or out of prison, on land or at sea, and in spite of health issues for which there was no cure. He was thankful because he knew no matter what, no matter where, God would be there to take care of him.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

What are you thankful for? Jason is thankful for the success God is providing in his new business. Ellen is thankful that God spared Bernie’s life this year after the stroke. David and Emily are thankful he returned home safely from serving our country in the Middle East and that they will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving together as a family. Elizabeth is thankful for another Thanksgiving with her family after a long year battling cancer. My mom is thankful that she still has her eyesight after many struggles with it over the past couple of years. Beverly is thankful her husband, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s still knows her. And I’m thankful I will get to enjoy all the things I love about Thanksgiving and for the blessing of you—my church family.

Happy Thanksgiving!