Thanksgiving has always held such a special place in my heart. It's a time of reflecting on how God brought a handful of people across the ocean, starving, scared, and ready to begin a new life in spite of the struggles. Hearing how they survived with the help of the native Americans, and how they gave God thanks and glory for it al,l is always an uplifting story.
It's a time of reflecting on how much God is still blessing America, in spite of the constant warfare of people trying to bring our great nation to her knees. It'sa time of reflecting on our own families beginnings. The new marriages, the new children, and at this point in my life, the new grandchildren. And in the midstof all this reminscing, giving our Heavenly Father thanks and honor for all his blessings.
.
Being thankful is acknowledging that someone has bestowed upon us some sort of gift. Did you know that God equates being unthankful as bad as being a liar? Being selfish? Being celf centered and a braggart? Being a sexual deviant? Being unholy? Pretty serious stuff. Read 2 Timothy chapter 3. The next time we think, "why did God do this to me?, or why didn't God answer my prayer the way I wanted?", we had better take a step back, reevaluate ourselves, and thank God that we're breathing, that we can see, that we can walk, that our heart is beating.
I don't suppose it was easy for Paul when he was imprisoned and beaten. I don't suppose it was easy for Mary when she was being shunned because she was a young girl, unmarried, and pregnant. So, I guess we'll make it through when we don't get that new car we wanted, or when we didn't get the name brand purse.
It's easy to be thankful when we're on top of the world and everything is going great. But how easy is it to bow our heads and be thankful when someone we loved just walked out on us? How easy is to say thanks when we're in financial hardships? How easy is it to be thankful when our bodies are racked with pain? When we are going through trials and it's hard to just face another day, God still makes his love known. We just may have to look a little harder for the things in which to be thankful.I've been making trips to Tennessee my whole life. It's where my birth family is. It's where my heritage is. However, the past seven or eight years have been quite a different experience.
Before, it was to reunite, have good times, eat meals together, and reminisce. Later it was to help with sicknesses, surgeries, be a stronghold, and hold loved ones in death. It's been difficult to be thankful in these circumstances.
My last trip, I saw a change in my mom. She was more forgetful, weaker, and sadder. When she asked me if I was leaving to go back home and I told her I was, her countenance changed. It broke my heart....again. So, as I left her and then took my stepdad back home and watched him as he walked to his apartment, all hunched over with age, taking slow, careful steps, I lost it....again. Every time I leave there, I wonder if it will be the last time I see them.
As I was travelling on down the road, brokenhearted, and telling God that I just couldn't take this....again, a song came on the radio. I don't remember ever
hearing it before, but the words I heard were,
* "I really hate to bother you, but Lord, I've gotta whole lot on my mind
I know that you're real busy, but I promise I won't take much of your time
but Lord I need a little grace, to help me make it through
I need to feel that kind of love that only comes from you.
If you'll just sqeeze my hand, let me feel you by my side
You said you'd never leave me, you'd always be my guide
but the storms of life sometimes won't let the sun shine through
Lord, I need to feel that kind of love that only comes from you
And you know what happened? I travelled a few more miles and I saw a sign (yep, God still sends signs). It was one of those signs where nothing is advertised and they have a phone number on it that you can call to have a sign put up. Well, the phone number was at the bottom along with the words "lease me", but above that in huge letters were these words, "FIGHT ON. THE BEST IS YET TO COME."
Well, that just sent me into another fit of tears because like the song said, "if you'll just squeeze my hand and let me feel you by my side" He did! God held my hand while I was leaving town. He comforted me and told me it would be okay.
In spite of the heartache, God blessed. I'm so very thankful for that. I know that God isn't going to put up a big sign everytime we're struggling, but if we look around, we'll find the ways in which He's telling us that He's near. It may be a song, it may be laughter of a child, or it may just be a memory, but God always shows us his love in very special ways.
God bless each of you and may you have a special Thanksgiving season this year.
Hebrews 13:15 By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
(song-
*Special Love by Karen Peck and New River)
