Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE

Thanksgiving is a word we hear thrown around a lot at this time of year,
isn't it? I myself am preaching a series of sermons on the topic of
"Thanksgiving."

Thanksgiving is a term however which is somewhat relative to our personal
situation. Or, perhaps it is better said, the word "thanksgiving" has a
different meaning or emphasis to us based upon what has happening or is
happening to us. For the most part, the greater difficulty or challenge we
face, the greater our level of thanksgiving!

For example, this week late one night, my wife and I rescued a little lost
dog from the street. It was returned to its owner after a day and they
repeatedly expressed their thankfulness to us for caring for the pet they
love. On another level, one of our church members had successful surgery and
all of us involved expressed our thankfulness to God. On yet another level
the husband of another church member was rushed to the hospital with a
possible heart attack, it wasn't, and they were thankful that it wasn't as
bad as it could have been.

So, to a certain degree, thanksgiving is relative in the lives of each one
of us. But at this time of year we are normally thinking of another type of
Thanksgiving, aren't we. We are thinking mainly of the national holiday of
Thanksgiving.

For most it is a time of gathering with family or friends and enjoying love
and fellowship. A time of catching up, that has more the feeling of a family
reunion than a holiday. Yes, we all have our traditions, our favorite food
and such. It is also a "bittersweet" time, as we remember some who are no
longer able to be with us, separated by miles or by death. We remember,
Grandma's home made beef and noodles or Aunt Phyllis' a gratin potatoes or
mom's Strawberry Rhubarb pies or dad's yearly proclamation that "When he was
growing up, sweet potatoes were served for dessert."

Memories play such a big part of Thanksgiving. We remember Thanksgiving's
past and plan for the next one yet to come. We remember people, places,
events and things which bring a smile to our face and warmth to our hearts.
Yes, all of things are important, maybe even necessary for our spiritual
well being. Each of us needs good memories to lift us up through the bad
times that come our way.

Sadly, some have never experienced many of those good things and have a very
small bank of warm memories from which to draw. A few years ago, during this
"Thanksgiving" period, I started trying to make a list of all of the good
things, all of the blessings that I had experienced in the past year. It
contains names of people who have encouraged me; it contains remembrances of
how God has answered my prayers or the prayers of those to whom I am close.
It contains memories of good things that have happened to friends, family
and brothers and sisters in Christ and all of the good that has touched
others that I have heard about.

You see, sometimes we want to make Thanksgiving a selfish time, a time of
self pity, because we didn't get everything we wanted or everything didn't
go just the way we had hoped. True Thanksgiving goes beyond just what has
happened to me, and takes in the larger world in which we live! You see we
are told, "God so loved the world," that takes in everyone, "that he gave
his one and only son." God's son died for you and me and the whole world,
"that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John
3:16)

You see, even if you are far from home and loved ones or have experienced a
multitude of bad things in your life, no matter how bad you life may be, you
have the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ for which to be thankful!

So, remember the days of your life both past and present, learn from them
and grow from them, but look to the future with hope, optimism and
thanksgiving, because of our loving God.

Russ Lawson