Giving Thanks

For much of my life, I took it for granted that in America there is a holiday set aside to “give thanks” for the many blessings in our lives. This celebration began in our nation almost 400 years ago and was intended to be a day focused on God, to thank Him for the gifts of His provision of health, food and the other basics of life.

As we celebrated Thanksgiving this week, I realize that even though we have one wonderful day set aside specifically to “give thanks,” the attitude of thanksgiving should permeate every part of our lives.

Last year, when I walked through the diagnosis of cancer, and the surgeries and treatment that brought me to total healing, I found that it was very easy to be grateful for the simple things of life… including simply waking up to another day. The gift of life is often overlooked as we focus on the situations that come our way. However, as I watched God use even the difficult days to build my character, I found a new love for the truth that I can give thanks IN every situation (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

C. S. Lewis once wrote, “We ought to give thanks for all fortune: If it is ‘good’ because it is good, if ‘bad’ because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.’” We, like those men and women of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 (especially verses 13-16), may not receive all the promises of God in this world, but see them with our spiritual eyes and embrace them by faith, knowing that this world is not our true home. We desire a better – a heavenly – country, and every event of this life prepares us for that which is ahead in eternity. This is the training ground.

As we look forward to a new year, may we ask the Lord to use this Thanksgiving and Christmas season to open our eyes in a greater way to see that “eternal country” - the Kingdom of God at work in and around us. And may He use us to bring about that truth to those around us who do not know Him, His Kingdom, or His great love for them. Truly, Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” It is near us and is in us who believe. As we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…” may we have faith to know that God is doing just that as He uses each day and each situation to reveal Himself to us. For that, we can give thanks always.