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.