In just a few weeks Americans everywhere will celebrate a uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving. We will gather with family and friends, eat lots of turkey and pumpkin pie, watch parades, and exhibit a general spirit of thankfulness for all that we have. I would like to suggest that this year, we not wait until Nov. 26 to begin Thanksgiving. I propose that we make everyday Thanksgiving…but without the parades.
Earlier this week a friend reminded me that a spirit of thankfulness should characterize my life. While I may not always feel like being thankful, I should none-the-less practice that spirit of thanksgiving in everything. But the reality is that sometimes being thankful is a choice, an act of the will. True thankfulness is not based on our circumstances. If we wait until everything is “perfect”, we’ll never be thankful.
Years ago I had a pastor whose preached a series of sermons he called Positives from Philippians. When I was reminded that I should be thankful, I remembered four of those verses that too often I have forgotten.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
In a world searching for circumstantial happiness, thanksgiving offers true peace. Choose to focus on the positives of what you have and be thankful in all things. Why? Because the “Lord is near”.
For what do you have to be thankful?
