Giving thanks and my heart

One of the most memorable Thanksgivings was the one I spent in my dorm room at Evangel College in Springfield Missouri (the state of misery we called it). My roommate and I were basically stuck there over the holiday, and with no money to return home we were obliged to accept the hospitality of our college home away from home. With only a box of Sugar Pops and a loaf of banana bread, we shared Thanksgiving Day away from family and friends. We were bumming and not being especially thankful. I remember thinking unkind thoughts about pilgrims and hoping all the balloons in Macy’s parade would suddenly fly off with some of their handlers still hanging on. It was the only time in my life that I longed to spend time with a turkey. Then somehow (Hmm, I wonder), another student found out we were still on campus. He invited us to his apartment to share his small feast with him, which we accepted with drooling excitement. God had provided and I learned a lesson about being grateful, no matter the circumstances.

This holiday is not really about the pilgrims, or turkey or parades; it is really only about the Father and His faithfulness. It is a time of reflection, a time to celebrate the awesomeness of His provision for His people. We need to be a thankful people all year long, in any circumstance, but let us take advantage of the season and show the gratitude of a blessed people. At some point during dinner I am going to pull back and listen, I going to be still and watch. I am going to purpose in my heart to drink in all the blessing of being thankful and the freedom it gives. Moments of faith answered will flood my memory, moving me to tears of gratefulness and I will take time to add to them. This is what this season is for; the Father’s faithfulness displayed on the canvas our lives and our thankful hearts given in response.

Some thoughts on being thankful

This Thanksgiving I’ll be thankful:
For the prayers for it means the presence of God will fill my home.
For the smells and aromas and the memories they stir.
For the crowd at my house for it means I have love in my home.
For the noise of children for it means their lungs are healthy.
For the laughter for it means I have joy in my home.
For the old stories retold for it means there is heritage to pass along.
For the sleepiness afterwards for it means all are content.
For the cleanup afterwards for it means we all had our fill.
For dessert for it means there is always something more to look forward to.
For leftovers for it reminds us that God gives abundantly beyond our imagination.

Blessings, Jay

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© 2008 Jay Cookingham - All rights reserved.
Jay Cookingham recently published two articles for the God's Way series. You can visit his home page at http://Jaycookingham.com

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