I’ve always enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family, but many times I become distracted from the intended purpose. Between football, conversations and pumpkin pie, it’s easy to forget how much we have to be thankful for.
Sadly, many have forgotten or maybe they have never known the history of human suffering that is associated with the Pilgrims. It’s been recorded that the new colony was focused on giving God thanks for his blessings and protection. As William Bradford is quoted, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, to again set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element. Thus, out of small beginnings, greater things have been produced by his hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of God have all the praise.”
Clearly, the pilgrims of the Plymouth colony praised God and appreciated him for all they had. Today the meaning of Thanksgiving is often lost under an endless avalanche of media hype, sales advertisements, marketing gimmicks and aggressive commercialism.
Like all Christians, we give thanks to the Lord for loving us and rescuing us from eternal darkness and death. We could never express to our heavenly Father enough how grateful we are that he sent Jesus to redeem and forgive us with his blood. I realize there are hard times and many difficult situations, but we are fortunate to not only have his promises of hope and peace here on Earth, but he is also preparing a place for us in heaven.
I published a book a couple of years ago called, “A Lifestyle of Worship,” and it’s about becoming determined to develop an awareness of God’s presence all the time instead of just when we are in church or need a favor. Brother Lawrence, whose 17th-century work, “The Practice of the Presence of God,” details his discipline to become so sensitive to everything going on around him that he might consider all situations as an opportunity to manifest the attributes of Christ.