Grateful means “feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful; received or experienced with gratitude; welcome.” It seems simple enough; however, it has become less common in our contemporary culture. There seems to be a mean-spirited and ungrateful epidemic. Having a grateful heart and attitude is a taught or learned choice; it does not come naturally. Let us reclaim our “thankfulness” even amid the Corona Virus.
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)
As we experience this Thanksgiving season, may we use the opportunity to choose to have a “thankful” heart and model the same for our children. The condition of our heart is revealed to others through our countenance, our body language, and our face. Don’t think of the holiday as a burden, but rather as an opportunity for great joy and “thanksgiving.” The verse above says in “all” things give thanks. There is a great commercial by Publix that has multiple generations eating, cleaning up, and fellowshipping together with joy and laughter in their midst. It portrays a beautiful opportunity that each of us has to make Thanksgiving all about the people we share it with.
Being grateful is something that our children must “catch” from us. Being thankful was never intended to be linked to materialism or circumstances, but rather to the person of Jesus Christ and His Father who sits on the throne of heaven. From His abundance we have family and friends to love and enjoy. Psalm 47:8 (NLT): “God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne.” There is no level playing field in life other than God’s great throne of grace where He disperses His gifts upon mankind as He sees fit, all within the boundary of His perfect love. To raise children with the idea or expectation that life must be fair according to our ideal is setting them up to fail.
Make your gratitude list and choose to be grateful! Give thanks for your Thanksgiving table. Don’t hesitate to declare you love the holiday, and take this opportunity to speak of the many things we each have to be thankful for. Let your anticipation be one of excitement and joy. The important gift and blessing of Thanksgiving is our relationship with the Lord and with one another. Don’t miss that.
This Thanksgiving gives us great opportunity for tradition and for memories. Don’t let it pass by, and please don’t make it all about “black Friday.” Psalm 75:1 (NLT): “We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.”
“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV)
