In the past I have participated in the trending thing of posting something each day on Facebook that you are thankful for. This year I didn't... partly because it's what everyone does, and in some ways it seems like a tradition that has lost meaning. (Doesn't mean I think all who post what they are thankful for don't mean it, though).
However, this month especially it seems I have had many things to be thankful for, or they have just come to mind more than normal. Some of these were simple everyday things I am prone to take for granted. Others were a "big deal" (to me) that happened, or didn't happen. These things include:
Very thankful for coffee!
Glad I have a sewing machine, so I can do something that I enjoy.
Thankful for good health, and immune system.
Blessed to have a washing machine and clothesline/dryer that makes my choice to do cloth diapering soo much easier. (once upon a time, cloth was the only option, with no washing machines).
Thankful for my husband (there is so much I could say about this).
Thankful for my daughter, and the special reminder, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, that it has been one year (on thanksgiving) that I found out I was pregnant.
Soo, very, very Thankful for forgiveness and grace!
Happy to have a church family, that is just that, Family! And all the blessings that entails.
Very thankful for God's protection over my family, bringing my husband home safely each day from work.
Thankful for answered prayer! There's no describing the "feeling" and blessing that goes with asking a powerful God for what you need and seeing specific, timely answers to exactly what you prayed for!
I could go on, but that gives you an idea of the types of things I'm thinking of lately. Thankful for the big and small things.
But something I've been meditating on lately is, what does one mean when they say "I'm thankful for...."?
What do you mean by "Thankful"?
Does this season of thanksgiving, and the daily Facebook posts, and all that goes with it simply the things to do because "'tis the season"? Or does it go beyond that?
Is "being thankful" simply an attitude of gratitude, that you are glad for what you have?
The big question is Who are you thankful to?
We tell one another "thanks" for gifts and acts of kindness and such, therefore being thankful to somebody.
So, this season of thanksgiving, when we traditionally express all the things we are thankful for, such as, family, health, home, life, possessions, etc. Who, if anyone, is receiving our thanks?
Where do these blessings come from? Have you considered the source of your family, health, home, life, possessions, etc?
James 1:16-18 says,
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should become a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (ESV)
and
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through Him and for Him. And His is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17 ESV).
"Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!"
Psalm 106:1
Happy Thanksgiving!!
