Every
year in November people get all thankful, because of the one day a year we are
to give thanks. Doesn’t that seem rather
silly? I mean, one day a year, set aside
just to be thankful. That doesn’t seem right to me. Why?
Well,
having a thankful heart should be year around.
I know, there are some folks that are going through hell and it’s hard
for them to be thankful. There are those that are marginalized; homeless, drug
addicts, prostitutes, widows, newly divorced and those that are traded for sex as
children. These people find it very difficult to be thankful. I can’t really imagine what
that must be like.
Yet the Bible says,”
“Give thanks to God no matter what
circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus
the Anointed.)" 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (VOICE)
There
are so many people across our nation, that can be thankful that they
have jobs, a family they are at least communicating with. They have a roof over
their heads, warm clothes to wear, and food on their table. Basic needs are
met. Yet, even these folks aren’t very
thankful. They can find something, focus on it and be critical. Doesn’t matter
how much they do have and I just shake
my head.
My
husband and I were close to being homeless; more than some of our friends
realize. We struggled with Jim being out of work and making our bills. We went
to the food bank just to stretch what funds we did have from unemployment. When
unemployment was gone, we had to make it stretch even farther.It was not easy. It was difficult. But through all of that, we were thankful.
We
have a faith that is unshakeable. A faith in the Creator of the Universe, who
sent His Son to earth to live and die just for me, for all of us. It is having a relationship with my Creator
that gives me that thankful heart. He
loves me. I love Him. We talk all the
time thus, I have a very close relationship with Him. He lets me know that He is standing with me, and sometimes carrying me.
Over
and over again Jim and I have seen Him provide for us in the most amazing
ways. I don’t know why. I just know that He loves us. We are His
children and he wants to provide for us.
I also know that He stood by us in our darkest moments. Those moments
when we felt helpless, hopeless, and in despair. Yet, His presence was still there. I could tangibly feel it. But, I could only feel it because I had a
close relationship with Him. I longed
for His presence and sought it out.
Being
thankful comes from within, not from circumstances outside of us. Otherwise, who would be thankful? I think true
thankfulness is learned from our Creator. He teaches me so many things. More
than I can write here, but it is a daily learning. It is a daily discipline to
come before Him - humbly with hands and heart open for more of Him.
“Give thanks to the Eternal, and call out to Him. Teach the people
His deeds.”
