Could We Please Prepare to Be Thankful Even Before Thanksgiving?
I want to try it this year.
I know it is not even close to Thanksgiving holiday, but if you will take a few minutes with me maybe we could do this together. Taking stuff for granted is too much of my life’s pattern. I don’t want to do that again this year, so I have started trying to live in the moment without allowing my mind to drift backward to regret or forward into fear – too often or for too long. I am going to start a list of blessings and encourage you to take a look at my list. Instead of having much to read this week, I would like for you to create a list of your own. Let’s start thanking God and others who’ve blessed us and given to us, so when Thanksgiving comes it will be a natural, beautiful flow into giving thanks to God and to others, while gathered with family and friends.
I am thankful for …
- Heaven – my forever home with Jesus
- Forgiveness – the cleansing of my sin given to me by Jesus
- Carol – my wife of almost 49 years; one of my greatest gifts from God
- Paul – my son who just turned 45 and is a Christ-follower and great man
- Suzanne – my daughter who lives near us in GA and loves her Lord, family, & us
- Jeanne – my daughter in MN whose last two years have brought marriage and her first child; she too loves Jesus, her family, and us
- Garnett, Don, Cecil, Denny, Kenny, Ann, and Larry – my siblings ages 88 to 67 with whom I have loving relationships; Rick, my brother in law
- Siblings’ and Rick’s spouse and families; – I am thankful for them all
- Our grandchildren: Eli, Clara, Evan, Joanna, Jonathan, Reagan, Megan, Silas, and Ben – what joy they bring as we watch them grow and come to love Jesus
- Our church homes: Mount Bethel Church in PA – on staff part time – loving family who’ve welcomed us with open arms; Helen FBC in Helen GA where we’ve found friends and encouragement for the last 4 years.
- Too many couples to name who have been with us in the journey of Basic Idea Ministries as Encouragers working alongside us, donors helping keep the ministry moving forward, and prayer warriors lifting us to the Father.
- Food, shelter, clothing, transportation, finances to pay bills and do other things not bill-related; fun with our families and friends
- Improving health to keep going and enjoy life and love
- Good neighbors – past and present
- Friends all over the USA and around the world – some who stick close to us
- The Word of God – to guide and keep us headed in the right direction and to discover more of the heart of our God
- Holy Spirit Who lives within my heart Who brings me to remember Jesus’ Words and power to follow Him
- Technology to communicate so widely and openly
- The USA and the heritage we’ve been given to preserve by God’s power and grace – Thankful, God has not given up on us.
- Truth that Jesus Christ is coming again and the opportunity to prepare and to invite others to be ready to meet Him. He IS coming.
- and so on and so on….we’ve much to be thankful for….
Where can you take this list from here?
22.
23……
Let’s do one more thing to actually connect to our #3 Need of the Top Ten Relational Needs: Appreciation – Expressing thanks, praise, and commendation particularly in recognition of someone’s accomplishments or efforts; gratefully acknowledging what someone “does”.
Let’s begin to openly or privately recognize the efforts and achievements of others? Let’s learn to say “thank you” and take time to look someone in the eye, shake their hand, or just stop for a moment to be with them and express our gratitude. This may seem to be a shallow assignment, but I am guessing it won’t be insignificant or seem shallow to the ones to whom we express gratitude. What do you say?
How Important is it to not only give but to give thanks?