Today, we as a people celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a time to gather with family and friends. Many of us get to enjoy a day or two off of work. We will watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with its pageantry and the arrival of Santa Claus.
The smell of roast turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and many other delicacies will pervade our homes. Football games will be played. I am biased, go Steelers!
The historical roots of the holiday can be traced to those who gave thanks for a bountiful harvest.
In the United States, Thanksgiving was first celebrated on the same date by all states via a presidential proclamation in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln and later changed to the fourth Thursday in November by a joint resolution of Congress in 1941.
We have much for which to express our thanks, even when we may not feel like doing so.
We take for granted many things. We have eyes to see the various colors of the foods we will consume this day and a sense of smell that further entices our hunger. We can hear the sounds of conversation and our dinner time prayers.
Today as you celebrate with your families, attempt to find a reason – any reason, for which to give thanks.
In addition to finding whatever reason to give thanks, I’d encourage you to direct the giving of thanks to the One who is due our thanks.
The One who is faithful in His love for you!
In Psalms 136 shown below, there are twelve “thanks” and twenty-six “His faithful love endures forever” referenced.
Good teachers use repetition to help us achieve mastery. The same can be said here.
Practice makes perfect – be thankful! Make it a positive habit not only on this day, but each day.
I am thankful for my wife, each of my daughter’s, the sons God has blessed me with through marriage, my two granddaughter’s, the new grandson who will soon be part of our family, and for new seasons of life upon us.
I’d like to put some skin in the game to encourage you to give thanks.
For anyone sending me an email (at coach4him@comcast.net) noting at least two things for which they are thankful, your name will be entered into a drawing to win one of two, $5 Starbuck’s gift cards.
It’s not a million bucks, forgive me for that. However, it may help us collectively to offer our thanks. Have a great day as you celebrate!
Psalms 136
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights;
His faithful love endures forever.
The sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
And the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
But he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings;
His faithful love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
And Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance
His faithful love endures forever.
A special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.
He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.