GRATITUDE OF THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving is a national holiday, celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada, centered around giving thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year.

In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It has historical roots in English traditions, dating back to the Protestant Reformation, and it is often associated with a 1621 feast shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans.

The modern Thanksgiving celebration typically includes a large meal featuring turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and various side dishes, as well as family gatherings and expressions of gratitude.

QUESTION: As we celebrate Thanksgiving, how do you and I live with GRATITUDE post Thanksgiving?

Gratitude is a precious gift flowing from the grace and love of God!

It is a personal emotion, or feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for the kindnesses or benefits received from others, whether they are tangible or intangible, and spiritually from Jesus Himself!

Gratitude is looking back and remembering the blessings! Gratitude is looking at the day and counting the blessings! Gratitude is the emotional, mental, and spiritual foundation that regardless of my circumstances today, my heart is full of thanksgiving for…..

what would your words be right now?

As I look back, do you know my greatest challenge of Thanksgiving past?

The answer is a simple one for me, just like thousands of other warriors of our nations, who have experienced too many lonely Thanksgivings over the years. In fact, as I write this statement, I am aware this is being repeated again in other places today. Now know there will be huge amount of food for most of them. There will be additional service times for all to eat, some amazing desserts, and they will try hard to help ease the loneliness of missing family!

Yes, it is a double challenge for us. We grieve for missing our family, even as our family grieves, wherever they may be with other family members, because our hearts do ache inside for the most precious element of our life, our dear family relationships for whom right now, at that moment, we are so grateful for! We realize at this time what we are missing and it is so incredibly precious. In fact, it challenges us, to ask, “Why didn’t I appreciate this or cherish this when I was with them?”

One of the most profound stories of gratitude, in scripture, is the account of the ten lepers found in Luke 17:11-19: Here’s a summary of the story:

The Healing of the Ten Lepers—

As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, he entered a village where he encountered ten men afflicted with leprosy. They stood at a distance, as was customary for those with leprosy, and called out to Jesus, asking for mercy. Jesus, moved with compassion, instructed them to go show themselves to the priests.

As they went, they were healed of their leprosy. However, out of the ten men who were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus. Interestingly the nine who were religious did not return to give thanks. The one who did return to give thanks was non-religious, an outcast. Very Interesting! They All believed in healing BUT only one, the non-religious, returns with a HEART OF GRATITUDE!

QUESTION: WHO ARE WE? Are we living a life today that reflects the actions of the nine OR of the one?

Yes, the story is about us, HIS believers! Jesus is definitely giving you and me a challenge! HE is reminding us of something so precious to HIM and our Heavenly Father. HE knows as believers, we can take for granted the GRACE GIVEN US! However, in HIS grace and love, the Holy Spirit comes right now to wake us up, to rekindle the fire, to move us once again to a heart of GRATITUDE, something so needed in our families, our church, our work, our life!

I end this reflection with the following story of: A Community Response to a Disastrous Flood

In a small town that experienced severe flooding, families and homes were significantly affected. Many residents lost belongings and faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. However, rather than succumbing, hear the action of one family.

The Story:

However, ONE local family, who had lost nearly everything, was incredibly touched by the outpouring of support. Members of the community, many of whom were strangers before the flood, came to help them clean up their home, provide meals, and offer emotional support. They set up a GoFundMe campaign that exceeded their expectations, allowing the family to start over.

The Thanksgiving Dinner:

A few months later, as the community began to recover, the same family, filled with gratitude for the kindness shown to them during their time of need, decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner. They invited not only friends and neighbors but also the volunteers and strangers who had come to their aid. They prepared a massive feast and, instead of just serving food, they made it a celebration of gratitude.

During the dinner, the family shared their story and thanked everyone who had helped them. They expressed how the community’s generosity and support had not only helped them rebuild their home but also restored their faith in humanity. It was a powerful moment that brought tears to many eyes in attendance.

SO PONDER WITH ME RIGHT NOW: As I drink my first cup of coffee and get ready to share a Thanksgiving meal today, how is my heart of gratitude? Where, right now, should I stop and give thanks to Jesus?

Lastly, PONDER with me this question as well…. IS THERE ANYONE YOU CAN INVITE TODAY, as a heart of gratitude, to your Thanksgiving meal, that is either alone, or single, or perhaps just troubled in need of experiencing HIS love but would never admit it or ask?

Lord Jesus, come Holy Spirit. IF there is someone near me today who will be lonely, hungry, or in just in need of being affirmed, PLEASE LORD, let me know so I can go get them and share our meal, our love, our home with them today! In Jesus name, Amen!