What are you thankful for today? Are you thankful for family? Are you thankful for your job? Are you thankful for a roof over your head, clothing to wear, food on your table, and water to drink? Are you thankful for others who have put their faith in Jesus Christ?
We are instructed in Scripture to give thanks for all we have. We may have been told the same thing by our parents or grandparents. But in our culture of me first, it can be a challenge to be thankful. We are told we deserve so much more and feel like we are being slighted.
Having family around a table to share a meal is something to be thankful for. There are many who do not have that experience. I remember times of being deployed during holidays, being far away from family. I also think of those who are in nursing homes and whose family does not visit them. I think of the elderly whose children and grandchildren who live hundreds of miles away and who cannot visit with them during the holidays due to the cost of traveling.
Most of us take for granted the basic necessities of a place to live, clothing, food, and water. Yet, I have been to places where the water is not safe to drink, and people purchase their food day-to-day based on the money they have available. They are hardworking people, but their jobs do not pay enough for luxuries.
The Apostle Paul encourages us to be thankful for our brothers and sisters in faith. We are to love them and be thankful they have come to faith in Jesus. Again, our culture makes that challenging. We disagree and our culture wants us to hate based on disagreement. We have forgotten to be thankful for different points of view. If it weren’t for different points of view, we would be a stagnant society. It is our diversity that provides opportunity for growth. Let’s give thanks for people of faith and love every one of them.
I pray we all give thanks for the blessings of God. I pray we give thanks for family and God’s provisions. I pray each one of us give thanks for everyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ. Be thankful. Give God’s thanks for his blessings. Be thankful for fellow Christians. Love one another.
Ephesians 1:15-16 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
Marty Pressey 