Nov. 15, 2006
Thankful Thanksgiving
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I'm sure it's no surprise that the theme of thankfulness has been running through my mind in these last weeks. Well, maybe it'd be more accurate to say that it's been lollygagging through my mind lately. I seem to be internalizing Thanksgiving more this year than in years past. I have so much to be grateful for. The trials of life - they're ever present - that's just.....life. But, deep down, in the core, thankfulness permeates my heart. Throughout it all...when it's all 'right as rain' and when it's all gloomy and overcast...He's always there, in the shadows, by my side, loving me. In light of my thankful sentiments of late...today I want to share one thing that I am thankful for. Hopefully I'll have opportunities to share others throughout this month of Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for my darling husband. This man is in the kitchen, at this very moment, fixing supper (yes, I'm a displaced southerner). It's been one of those crazy-busy days, and bless his heart - he took pity on me. Gotta be thankful for that, right?! But it goes beyond him spelling me from supper duties this evening. I'm thankful for a year of health for him. I know it's vague but a girls gotta keep some things close to her heart ya know. :) I really can't do justice to thankfulness in general by attempting to list all that I'm thankful for...who really could? I would think that the same would be true for, even, those who don't know Who it is that they are thankful to for it all. What do we do with these grateful hearts - keep them to ourselves? Pridefully gloat as if to share some credit with God? Why not pass it along? I'm not talking about manners here - please, thank you, and may I... Remember the story in the Bible that refers to the employer leaving town and entrusting the three servants with the talents? It's the same principle - multiply what you have received so that it compounds. Our thankful hearts, touching others' lives and, in turn, spawning thankful hearts....not to us, heavens no, but thankful hearts to God. Not just in times of plenty, not just in times of blessing...but in times of want and in times of hardship. In my mind's view, this is what the sacrifice of praise is all about. Even when it's dark and we can't see where He's leading - still we offer a sacrifice...one of praise....one of thanksgiving. A genuinely thankful heart can't help but spill over into the world around it...can it? Pilgrims, indians, pumpkin pie, cranberries....it's Thanksgiving alright....but along with all of the tradition that surrounds Thanksgiving....I just wanna have a Thankful Thanksgiving most of all. |