Thankful for Thanksgiving

There are many references to giving thanks throughout the scriptures. The bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” That verse reminds me that everything I have is a gift from Him. I should be grateful to the giver of all good gifts. One of my favorite verses come from First Thessalonians 5:18 that says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  How much time do I consider these verses? Thanksgiving season is upon us. What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

One of my favorite memories as a first-grade teacher was spending the whole month of November teaching my students about the first Thanksgiving. We decorated the bulletin board with turkeys, dressed up like pilgrims and Indians and had a feast in our classroom before we left for the holidays.  The kids were so engaged and learned so much about how this great country began. I miss those days but the question that comes to mind is how much time I spent telling my students to be thankful.

When I think about Thanksgiving today, I feel like it gets gobbled up by Halloween and Christmas. Maybe it’s just because I am not teaching it every day that it seems to have lost its significance. People are already putting up Christmas decorations, Christmas songs are being played in stores, and there is more merchandise to purchase for Christmas than the actual holiday that is upon us right now.

I love everything there is to love about Thanksgiving. I love the Fall season when the leaves change colors. I love the brisk, cool days. Most of all, I love the anticipation of our whole family getting together to enjoy good food and fellowship. I am one of those people who cannot put up Christmas decorations until it’s over. Where I fall short is not spending enough time being thankful. I am so busy preparing for the holiday that I fall short in giving thanks to God for the many blessings He has provided throughout the year. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I have one week to redirect my thoughts. I can choose to stay busy, or I can set aside time to be thankful. Got Questions.org really sums it up for me when it says. “Giving thanks reminds us of how much we do have. Human beings are prone to covetousness. We tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually, we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God.”

Let us all be thankful, not just on November 28, but all year long. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalms 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving!