I Remember Giving Thanks

article by PAUL LIPE
opinion expressed is that of the writer

I remember growing up in the piedmont area of North Carolina at a time when part of that growing coincided with the years of World War II.  During those years, the citizens of the United States were subject to rationing which limited the purchasing of some things that were needed in the world-wide war effort in which our troops were engaged. As I recall, the rationing that impacted our family the most involved gasoline and certain food stuffs.

In addition to this war-time rationing, my family would not have been considered affluent.  The combination of these two factors meant that we were limited relative to what we could purchase.  Despite these factors, I do not recall any time when my parents, my three siblings, and I were ever without things that we needed.  This fact should have created a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving.  That thanksgiving exploded when the war was over and grateful hearts gave thanks that the nations engaged in the conflict had not destroyed themselves.  Celebratory parades were common and churches were filled with worshipers who sang praises to the God who had given us the victory.   It was appropriate that thanksgiving be given and grateful Americans joined together to exalt the Lord.

As we approach Thanksgiving this year, how inclined are we to express our thanks to God?  The response that ought to be seen in us as we receive the bountiful goodness which the Lord gives us is often dwarfed when compared to the value God’s gifts.  He is so very gracious; we can be almost unmoved by His kindness.  It is good that we shall be observing Thanksgiving Day this month; hopefully that will stir in us a sense of gratitude for the benevolent love of the Father shown to His children.

One way by which we in our family seek to encourage a spirit of gratitude in our clan takes place at the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day.  As we are gathered for the feast, and before thanks is given for our food, each of us is asked to share with the family some special blessing we have received during the course of the year, especially blessings that have come through the agency of another family member. This elevates our appreciation of each other — and that is healthy!

Often, in our culture, our thanks is expressed primarily for temporal things such as successful coping with an illness, being promoted in our jobs, making high grades in school, having especially nice homes and automobiles, enjoying a special vacation, and being part of such an awesome family.  For such temporal blessings, it is appropriate that we express our thanks, but this year I would recommend that our focus be on our blessings that are eternal in nature.  Temporal blessings are just that – temporary.  While we do appreciate these gifts, we should  remember that they will not last.

There are gifts and blessings that are not transitory, but instead are lasting.  In addition to being eternal in nature, they are, I believe, superior to those blessings which we class as impermanent.  The gift that countless people value more than any others is the gift of eternal life.  This gift is given without cost to those who put their faith in Christ.  Though it is free to us, this gift was secured at great cost to our Father and His Son, Jesus.  To purchase this gift, it was required of the Son that He sacrifice His life to be the substitute for sinners. This sacrifice involved His death on the cross where He canceled the debt of all our sin (“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23).  He graciously died in our place!  This act purchased for us the promise of eternity in heaven where we shall  dwell with Christ and all those who placed their faith in the Lord — a place where there is no death, no sorrow, no sin but joy without end. This should cause us to burst with thanksgiving.

Such expressions of thankfulness will help to elevate our feelings of gratitude to God – and that is healthy!