I pray that Thanksgiving is more than a tradition;  more than a holiday;  more than a wonderful dinner and gathering of those we love.  I hope that it is a time of reflection and appreciation.  The tradition of thanksgiving was birthed during hard times.  There was a genuine time of pausing from the difficulties they faced to ponder and give thanks.

   For some it might have been because they had survived life challenging confrontations.  Maybe they had sacrificed immensely or had given all they had.  Still, for others the fact that they had survived and were holding on to the hope of a better day coming strengthened them.  There may have been fresh graves not very far away or someone came through the door that they thought did not survive the challenge they faced.  Whatever the dilemma, there was a people gathered together that had faced life taking or life threatening situations that caused them to turn to God and thank Him for His goodness, mercy, grace and love.

     If you have a family, be thankful.  If you have a church family that cares for you, be thankful.  If the past year was a year of severe testing, be thankful that it is over and you survived.  If you thought you couldn’t make it, go look in the mirror, you did.  If someone did something or said something that hurt you and you were able to forgive them and put it behind you;  be thankful.

    We all have adversities we must face and problems we just don’t understand and want to cry out:  “it’s not fair.”  It’s true, life is not fair and maybe you deserve better.  Keep this in mind.  It’s not over.  It’s not finished.  You can still overcome some things and the things you cannot handle you can turn over to God.  He said to cast your care upon Him.  He said He would never leave you.  He asks you to believe what He did;  what He said; and who He is.  The greatest thing you can do is let Him be God.  Love Him, seek Him, call upon Him and do what His Word tells you to do and then just rest in Him for He really loves you and one thing will never change.  His Word.  In the meantime, practice being thankful.  Be thankful for living in the greatest country on earth.  Be thankful for family, friends and the hope of a better day.

Maranatha!