Giving Thanks

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15)

We all recently held our annual Pilgrim’s Feast where we tie on the feedbag and stuffed ourselves silly more than the turkeys we devoured. By Thanksgiving afternoon the tryptophan kicks in and most of us are fast asleep in front of the football game. I have it even worse. Every year on this day, I actually have to eat two dinners. That has been a ritual I have had to endure for the last 27 years that I have been married. We do dinner in the early afternoon with my side of the family, then I have to follow that up with another one with Vicki’s side of the family later that evening. It is real suffering for Jesus. Although I do the cooking at home and can quite humbly??? say that I am good at it, I have never cooked a whole turkey in my life. That has always been covered for me by others in the family (both sides). Both dinners have their own unique tastes. On top of the turkey, my mom’s Cole slaw is awesome, and the candied sweet potatoes are to die for. This year my dad made me a tub of chicken liver paté as well. I could eat that stuff 3 times a day and then dream about it at night. Then for the evening course, there is nothing quite like the stuffing and turkey gravy at the in-laws along with the fresh homemade rolls, the broccoli cheese casserole, and the best pumpkin pie west of theMississippi. It is one of my favorite days of the year. I even have a special plate used only on a couple of special occasions every year like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a huge rectangular divided plate like you would find in a cafeteria with about 6 or 7 different sections so I can pile it on without any of the various items touching each other. I like my food portions separate. That way I can enjoy each uniquely distinct and wonderful taste experience without having it all jumbled together. It is truly a palette pleasing extravaganza of epic proportions. My mouth is drooling again just thinking about it.

Most families will stop right before the dinner to say a quick prayer of “Thanksgiving” just before diving in to the feast, which is all fine and wonderful. Even those who really don’t spend much time with God at any other time of the year will at least try to acknowledge his blessings on that day. As the “pastor” in the family, I am always called upon to say the blessing. But most of us thank God for our stuff instead of for the things that really matter. We have become such a self-indulgent society that we complain over every little “issue” that does not suit our fancy. Paul discusses in II Timothy chapter 3 the “perilous times” that will come upon the earth in the “last days”. We certainly live in them right now. This is one of the prophetic passages in the Bible dealing with our times, and it cites “unthankful” as a key component of the apostasy we live in today. We can see it manifest in our society. Those on the receiving end of society’s care are camped out complaining, protesting, and demanding even more. Unruly children whine and throw temper tantrums to get what they want, and parents feed that spirit by giving in to it. An endless parade of so-called “reality” television shows us just how “little” we think we have, when the true “reality” is that we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. Our airwaves are filled with personalities who are famous because they are famous, and they feed our unthankful spirit worse than almost anything else in our society. We now have “reality” shows that portray the most extravagant and ridiculous pampering of children I have ever witnessed. Our childhood should be one with fond memories and blessings, but when spoiled rotten brats spend over $100,000 on a birthday party for their spoiled rotten brat children, and then pollute our airwaves with the incessant whining about how every little detail wasn’t perfect, it is all I can do to not throw a brick through the set. All that would do is make me have to buy another one.

Be thankful that the only begotten Son of God chose to shed his blood for your sins. With a home in heaven guaranteed because of that, you have nothing to really complain about. The worst thing that could ever happen to you is to die and go to heaven. A heart that gives gratitude to the Saviour makes life worthwhile.