We Gather Together

And so, it's Thanksgiving again. If you look carefully in and around the Christmas decor, you might be able to glimpse some Thanksgiving acknowledgement in the stores and even in homes. Thanksgiving, in some measure, commemorates an historical event to be sure, but in our world it's become mostly about football, family and feasting (not necessarily in that order). Most folks are just glad to have a day (or two) off of work.

But the name of the day, tomorrow, is "Thanksgiving." Giving thanks. Being thankful. But to whom? If we're thankful, we're thankful to someone for something. But because we don't (or won't) think that through in our wold, most of the time we're just generally thankful with no real object. Or we "thank goodness," whomever "goodness" might be. If we really thought it through, we'd have to admit that we must be thankful to someone beyond ourselves for the blessings we could not have instigated on our own.

Thanksgiving calls us to be thankful to God. That's why the old hymn says, "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing..." There are so many blessings in our lives that could only have come from God.

So...for what are you thankful to God this holiday season?

Here's my short list...

• I'm thankful for good health and a loving family to spend my life with.
• I'm thankful for my church and the church family we're getting to know this year. I'm thankful for the many ministries I've already been able to be a part of, and I'm thankful that by Easter we'll be in our new sanctuary!!!
• I'm thankful for the sunshine and the rain, because both of them bring blessings in their own unique way.
• I'm thankful for Starbucks Chai Tea Latte that starts my mornings off just right!
• I'm thankful that both my wife and I are employed in jobs where we find fulfillment and joy (most days!).
• I'm thankful for music that fills the air with joy.
• I'm thankful, most of all, that in spite of the stupid things I do, Jesus loves me and welcomes me and forgives me and saves me from myself.

What's on your short list?

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Happy Thanksgiving!