Oh, Give Thanks

Roasted turkey with stuffing. Mashed potatoes with gravy. Roasted corn. Sweet potato pies. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I begin to salivate! But like any holiday, we can easily lose sight of the real meaning. When we think of those who will go without the holiday roast and the prepared meal, it starts to bring us back to the real reason for giving thanks.

As Christians, our Thanksgiving holiday isn’t about stuffing ourselves more than the bird on the table. We believe in truly giving thanks to the Lord for His provision over the year. Psalm 118 tells us to “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” And this appears in the chapter not once, but twice (verses 1 and 29).

We understand that we must give thanks—regardless of what our current situation looks like. Due to the current economy, there are families whose tables will not be full this Thanksgiving. And even those who will eat on the actual holiday—thanks to food banks, soup kitchens, and the help of people who care—those families may still be faced with the challenge of putting food on the table the rest of the winter. In Psalm 118:5-14, the psalmist speaks of some of the troubles and hardships the Lord has brought him through. It reminds us that it may be frightening and upsetting when we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but through it all, we must continue to be faithful to our thanksgiving to the Lord.

Let’s remember that Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday—it’s a way of life. Through the good times and the bad, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever!