Hungry for Thanks Giving?

 

Normally, this is the time we start making Thanksgiving celebration plans.  Who can come and what can they bring?  Which traditions do we want to continue?  When are turkeys on sale?  What’s on the menu and whose turn is it to host? (Mmm, I am salivating at the thought of mom’s stuffing, and pecan pie.)

Of course the current health advisory situation has everyone wondering -- Should Thanksgiving be canceled?  Would postponing the celebration be smart or a disappointing compromise?

And the myriad of other questions-- Are we spreading germs (exposing others to danger) while singing praises to God in church?  Should we heed the warnings against family and friend get-togethers? What news and advice should we follow?

Decades ago, when our family included active children, we tried various ways to encourage gratitude. Preschoolers found magazine pictures of things to thank God for, which were cut out and made into a Thanksgiving poster.  When they were grade school age, our kids were asked to list or draw things they appreciated, which we would include in prayers.  Years later, the speed in which teenagers traveled in and out of our home made it difficult for gratitude raising conversations.  But sometimes (when it included friends and favorite foods),  praises and prayers were shared.

But what about this year?  How can anyone generate gratitude for 2020?   Amid riots, wildfires, political divisiveness, the Covid plague, quarantines, closing businesses, financial hardships, lonely people in health facilities, smile-covering masks, daily adjustments and many fears, even Christians wonder if worshiping in person is the right thing to do.

How can we plan for a time of Thanks-giving, when everything around us seems out of control?

Instead of giving credence to my changing feelings, I need to remember the promises of my never-wavering, omnipotent Savior God.

 My help comes from the Lord,   the Maker of heaven and earth.
 He will not let your foot stumble. He who watches over you will not slumber…
 The Lord will watch over your going and your coming from now to eternity.

Psalm 121:2-8

I will praise God’s name in song. I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.

 Psalm 69:30

                                                                                   

 

So if God works everything out in a believer’s life for good (Romans 8:28), are there reasons for gratitude even during the last eight months? Has your Savior pointed out blessings to you this year?

The LORD has shown me the blessings of what I had taken for granted:

Social times with friends                        

Safe restaurant dinners

Slow walks admiring the beauty of creation

Technology that connects people, allowing school and work from home

A break from hectic busyness

Realizing how much we accomplish in a day does not define us

The gift of seeing and worshiping with brothers and sisters in Christ (even if masks muffle the sounds)

The urgent need to restore relationships

And the abundant opportunities to reach out among the worried and lonely with His love.

My priorities have shifted from parties, purchases and personal accomplishments to appreciating how God provides for every real need.  My pre-2020 hectic schedule seemed so urgent; it didn’t include much Bible study, Christian music, or thanks giving prayer. 

God, in his wisdom, took all the excuses away. And because of that, my Thanksgiving celebration has already begun.

 

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts… And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.        Colossians 3: 15-17