Give Thanks

It probably hasn’t escaped your attention: Halloween is not even over and yet Christmas decorations, Christmas catalogues, and Christmas songs are everywhere! The Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings seem to sandwich themselves in between the other celebrations barely noticed and yet –

Picture this: family and friends gather on the fourth Thursday in November to remember the founding of our country, and ultimately to Give Thanks. Some gather around television sets to watch football, others push back from the table and rub their tummies. Someone will say “I ate too much; I need a nap”. I also imagine someone saying, “We really should be this thankful every day”.

Thankful every day! What a concept – how might one foster this idea of thankfulness? I did an internet search asking how many times the Bible mentions ‘thankfulness’ or ‘thanksgiving’. You can do the same and, like me, discover that the phrase “give thanks” emerges as a recurrent theme, echoing the importance of gratitude in the Christian faith. If you were to delve into these scriptures, you can gain a new understanding of the significance of giving thanks as a spiritual practice.

First Thessalonians 5: 16-18 in the Passion Translation reads “Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus”. In the midst of everything give thanks?? That is a tall order and one that seems to contradict the way humans behave. Yet these verses identify three areas of our lives we must focus on: Unbounded joy, praying continually and giving thanks to God no matter what.

Hear the lyrics of one of my favorite hymns, “Give Thanks”. Give Thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now, let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” Give thanks.

If you have seen our glorious November sunrises, your spirit may be saying “Thank You!” You might not even recognize this as your spirit lifting up a prayer. But look! The psalmist had a very similar experience. Psalm 92, verse 2, Passion Translation reads “At each and every sunrise we will be thanking You for your kindness and your love. As the sun sets and all through the night we will keep proclaiming: “You are so faithful!”

Unbounded joy, praying continually and giving thanks to God no matter what --- will you join me over the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas looking for joy in your world, praying continually and giving thanks at all times. A good place to start might be to look up scriptures that mention giving thanks to God, and searching through hymns that bring you joy.

Though the words and melody of this hymn were written around 1600, they are eternal in expressing the joy that is ours through thankfulness and prayer. May you grow closer to God as you continue a life of giving thanks in all things.