Another 21st century American Thanksgiving is upon us and so we celebrate a time to be with family and to be thankful. The reality of Thanksgiving for many people is that it highlights the very brokenness of our families and individual lives. We often find ourselves in silence when it comes to being grateful, wondering if we have anything to be grateful for. So, rather than trying to prescriptively write, “Ten Things to Foster an Attitude of Gratitude” (which I find a bit too trite), allow me to share with you what I’ll be doing this Thanksgiving in light of my own need for gratefulness.
At some point, I will find a moment to stop all the crazy, remove the distractions, and give God a chance to begin excavating the hordes of selfishness, disappointment, pain, distrust, insecurity, discontent, pride, and control in my life. I will take an opportunity to be truly grateful by trusting the Lord to work in the deep caverns of my soul where I like to stash, store up, and hide these attitudes that I don’t like to admit I have collected. I will take a moment to try to release myself from the confines of the desire for control so I can see something bigger and more wonderful than me; someone to whom I am truly grateful.
In this season when Americans set aside time to be thankful, as a believer in Christ, it is a time for me to remember to whom I am thankful. My gratitude is not wishful thinking nor a delusional practice left over from unknowledgeable ancients. It is a real thankfulness to a real being, who is a real person. It is a time for reflection on the things we humans harbor in our souls that lead to destruction and the things that can lead to redemption. When I am truly thankful, truly grateful—which is no easy task to achieve—I find myself in worship of the One who is worthy of my offering. So here’s the one thing I will suggest. This Thanksgiving give an offering of yourself. Let God peer into your hiding spots and begin replacing the things we cling to with the love and sufficiency of His own grace.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7