(Editor’s Note: Thank you, Alberta, for sharing this with us. Alberta’s blog is “A Pastor’s Wife’s Journey” and here website is “So You’re the Minister’s Wife.”)
Thanksgiving is the act of giving thanks to a person or to God. It should be a genuine expression and acknowledgement of what has been done for us.
Ephesians 5:20 admonishes us: “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” There are so many things to be thankful for.
First of all, we should give thanks to God for the new life we have in Him because He gave us the gift of His Son. II Corinthians 9:15 states:“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
We should also be thankful for the daily provisions of God. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” –Philippians 4:19.
Be thankful for your family. Regularly express to family members how thankful you are for them. Do thoughtful and caring acts on a daily basis.
Be sure to express thanks to your friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle Paul was a good example of writing thank you notes to his fellow laborers in Christ. His writings are overflowing with words of thankfulness to those who aided him in sharing the gospel and providing for his physical needs. Are you thankful for your church family?
For many years now I have made it a practice to select one or two female acquaintances who have ministered to me in a very special way throughout the year. I write them a little note of thanks to show appreciation. Many later express to me they were surprised to receive a note because they did not know of their kind act and how it had ministered to me (sometimes it was just an encouraging word at the right time.)
It is difficult to separate “thanks” from “giving”. The two are closely intertwined. As you begin to become more thankful, your natural inclination is to “play it forward” and begin to give to others.
Giving thanks should become a high priority in our lives – not just at Thanksgiving!