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Expressing Gratitude to the Giver of All Gifts 11/21/2007 11:29:20 AM
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning
(James 1:17).
Even with two huge turkeys defrosting in my bathtub and nearly twenty people currently in various stages of preparing to descend upon our modest home for food, fun, and fellowship, I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I think of my many blessings. I could easily get caught up in my to-do list (read “endless, floor-dragging scroll”!), since I’m the primary cook and bottle-washer for this potentially chaotic event…or rejoice that there are so many people who actually care enough to come and spend the day/weekend with us (some from many miles away). I’ve chosen the latter, and it sure takes the pressure off.
No, the house isn’t spotless. (Oh, it’s relatively clean, but I wouldn’t advise eating off the floor.) And though I have enough years of experience under my cooking belt to turn out a decent turkey and pumpkin pie, no one has ever mistaken me for Betty Crocker.
So why do they come? They come because we’re family—or friends or neighbors—and because we all need special occasions to draw us together, to laugh and talk and eat, to remember and dream and plan. But most of all, we come together to be grateful. Admittedly we shouldn’t need a special day for that, as we should be thankful people all the time, but there’s something meaningful about coming together to express our thanks as a group. It’s especially important for the little ones to see their parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles making declarations of gratitude to the One who has so blessed us all.
The Bible is clear that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, the One who never changes and who loves us with an unconditional, everlasting love. May each of us, particularly those of us who claim Jesus as Savior and whether we are alone or in the midst of a large group of people, take time this Thanksgiving (and every day!) to acknowledge that everything we have has been given to us by a good and loving God. He owes us nothing, and yet He freely gives us everything. May we, with thankful hearts, declare our gratitude to Him and to all who will listen.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, dear family and friends in Jesus, and thank you for the privilege of writing to you each week….
