Thanksgiving
When I look at Thanksgiving coming up, I am reminded that we
created a holiday so that we as a people can give thanks to God for our
blessings. I know that in our history, we as a country have made many mistakes but
I also know that good can come from making mistakes. One of the best things
about living in this country is that I am free to make mistakes and to learn
from them. Thanksgiving happened because a group of religious people (pilgrims)
were wanting to celebrate the harvest and were thankful for food to survive.
The Native Americans were included in that celebrations because they helped
teach these people how to survive with what they were given. I say all this to
say that sometimes we need to shift our perspective and be thankful for what is
given to us by God and not let other things clutter our mind.
Recently in a group that I meet with every week, one of the
men brought an email that he received from a soldier friend in Afghanistan. The
discussion that we had been having was about the Grace of our Father and what
it meant to us and how we used it. The soldier was writing that to her, Grace
was being given clean water to shower with and not having an IED explode near
her camp. She was so thankful for these things, it made me stop and think. What
am I truly thankful for?
·
I am thankful that my Father sent His only Son
to earth to take and be punished for the sin in my life.
·
I am thankful that He was willing to die on a
cross for those sins and then rose three days later and is ALIVE.
·
I am thankful that almost 18 years ago, my best
friend said yes when I got down on my knee to ask her to marry me.
·
I am thankful that almost 12 years ago, my son
was born. Every day he teaches me a little more about the sacrifice that my
Father in Heaven made when sending His Son to die for me. Fatherhood changes
your perspective on that act of Grace.
·
I am thankful that almost 9 years ago, my
daughter was born. Every snuggle and tickle with her teaches me more about
unconditional love that any book or sermon ever could.
·
I am thankful for my mother. The example of faith
in action could not be stronger and I hope I can pass it on to my children.
·
I am thankful for family. I know that this one
is said at every Thanksgiving celebration but the reason I am thankful for
family is that they teach me about unconditional support no matter what the
situation is.
·
I am thankful for a brotherhood of believers
that I am a part of. Men, if you are not a part of a group of men who celebrate
together, hurt together and pray together, start one now.
·
I am thankful for the abilities that I have been
given which allow me to work and serve my Father so that when I am done, He
will say: “Well done my good and faithful servant!!”
·
Lastly, I am thankful for my country. That
Shining City on a Hill shows the world what the freedom to pursue your greatest
dreams really is. It is because of the sacrifice of so many that I am able to
pursue my dreams. While the men and women who make up this country are not
perfect, the principles of having been created by God to pursue your God-given
greatest dreams are perfect.
Now my challenge to you is to write out your list of 10.
What are you really thankful for? Happy Thanksgiving.
