NEWS ALERT BLOG – 12
THANKSGIVING––A TIME TO REFLECT ON GRATITUDE
12/4/24
by: Bill Watson
Direct Comments to:
Did you ever stop and think about how blessed we are? When you consider the freedom you have and opportunities before you––are you emotionally moved with gratitude for what you have and the potential there is in your future, for you personally? Nowhere in the world is there a nation like the United States of America—it offers so much more than other nations and the “testimony of proof” is illustrated by the many people from foreign countries that want to be educated, work, or live here in the United States.
But, what do we mean when we say one should have gratitude–-what is gratitude? According to the dictionary, it’s a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation. It’s an emotion of heartfelt affectionate gladdening! Someone who is grateful and has benefited from the blessing of some item, or service that has been provided, or even a person. They are cognizant of the favor they have experiences and consciously give expression to the affection of appreciation they feel.
Thanksgiving does indeed bring this lesson home to all of us––or at least, it should! Being surrounded by family and friends, sharing a variety of foods with everyone–-it doesn’t get much better than that. Especially if there are a few generations in the house––your children’s children is a real blessing to experience!
And though we don’t think too much about this today because we’re so humanistic and secularized, but the living God and our Christian roots have played a big part in the blessings of the United States of America.
Back when our “Founders” were first arriving from Europe, one common element they all seemed to share and believe was critical to the success and prosperity of the nation––and that was they all proclaimed God’s Providence! Whether Quakers, Puritans, or Anglicans, Lutherans, and even some Catholics––they all considered this new continent was a type of the “promised land.” It offered the freedom from the Church of England that seemed to oppress so many at the time. So, these “pilgrims” were not afraid, shy, or embarrassed to praise God for the abundance they were benefiting from their labors.
However, today the connection with God and specifically Jesus Christ, is not so much. Some families I dare say today, don’t even pray and give thanks to God for what they’re about to consume in the warmth and security of their homes. It’s unfortunate there are some of us that don’t take the time to stop and pause and give a comment––a prayer––to God about our gratitude for what He’s provided. To give God a heartfelt expression of “affectionate gladdening” is not so hard and clearly is the right thing to do as beneficiaries of so many enormous blessings the United States provides.
So, I hope that we as Christians especially, take that time to pause with family and friends and regardless of how some might feel about give thanks––give it anyway for the glory of God, who deserves our praise and appreciation for what He does for our lives and this country.
If we didn’t do it this year, then take this as a reminder and point of encouragement to remember God next year before you “dig in” to all the plenteous varieties of foods and drink before you. God is certainly deserving and merits our attention and thanks for all he does! And it will be a good educational tool for our children to observe and learn the considerations and honor we should show God for His blessings. Teach your children well!
Some Scriptures to keep in mind concerning Gratitude and thankfulness.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 – Psalms 118:24 – Col. 3:16-17 – Col. 2:7 – Col 4:2 – Jas. 1:17 – Acts 24:3
Eph. 5:20 – Phil. 4:6 – Psalm 69:30 – Psalm 92::1 – Rom 8:28 – Psalm 9:1 – Psalm 107:1