Let’s be thankful

Last week we celebrated the holiday of Thanksgiving. 

This special day ranks among the top two favorites of all the holidays. It is a day that we set aside to give thanks to God for all we have, to enjoy time with family and friends,to eat all day long the good food that has been so graciously prepared and we get to watch football all day if we so choose.

One day there was an old farmer that came into the restaraunt and he ordered a  meal. In just a little while the waiter brought out the gentlemans meal. Before eating,  the farmer bowed his head and gave thanks for his food. There were three teenage boys that were sitting in the next booth and they decided to have some fun at the farmers expense. They ask the man the question, “Does everybody do that where you come from?” With a sneer and a laugh the farmer answered, “No they don’t. The pigs just jump in!”

God frowns upon ingratitude and unthankfulness. We are such a blessed people and we ought to be so thankful for all we have. Paul writes, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20) 

We remember the pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day, not so much for their turkey dinner, but for the sheer faith that inspired them to give thanks in a year that saw nearly half their number die of sickness. Yet they prayed with thanksgiving. When our annual day of feasting is over and we bemoan our extra helping of dressing and mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, and most of us wll, let’s always hang on to the “thanks” part of Thanksgiving and if we do we will be a different person. Because when you learn to talk to God about your needs, mixed with a healthy dose of heartfelt thanks, then you have crossed the divide from whining to God to real prayer.

I hope that each and everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday in the upcoming week. But most of all to be thankful for what we have and enjoy in this life.