About Thanks-Giving

Thanksgiving. We could look at this time of year with anticipation, trepidation, or any manner of anxiety. By separating the word into two parts, thanks-giving, we can see what this time of year is all about.

Thanks involves realizing how very blessed we are and how much God has provided for us throughout the year. It's an "attitude of gratitude," to borrow a term from our friends at Alcoholics Anonymous. This is not a mere superficial "thank you" that we may say when someone gives us a token item, but rather a daily exercise of being aware of the many ways our heavenly Father provides for our every need. Gratitude carries with it a responsibility to act out our thanksgiving, which leads us to the next part.

Giving is an action rooted in gratitude. When was the last time you were inclined to give out of a heart of misery? With thanks comes the desire to give. Recalling all that He has provided us throughout the year, let us look for ways to show our thanks. It may be a simple smile and "hello" as we pass one another in the Welcome Center. It may be listening to a neighbor who has had a hectic week and needs to talk to someone. Or, it may be gaining an attitude that tells those around us that we are thankful for life.

When the Bible teaches us that "God loves us a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7b), we are to give from an overflowing gratitude, not just with a smile. The previous passage teaches us about sowing and reaping, but it's the first part of the verse that reveals where this attitude begins: "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity."

Thanks-giving then becomes an action of gratitude expressed to one another. Let us look for ways to serve our neighbors this season as we are acting out our attitudes of gratitude.