“This week as we gather with family and friends, let’s cultivate gratitude and be conscious of our blessings.” Kathy Spampinato

The Thanksgiving Holiday is happening! It is the day that the whole nation stops their regular routine to celebrate their blessings and gather with family and friends for an elaborate and extravagant meal. We are reminded of the history of Thanksgiving, when the Pilgrims thanked God for their survival. They had come through a very tough winter, where many did not make it. They were thankful for the help of the Wampanoag Tribe in learning how to thrive in their new land. They celebrated with joy, gratitude, and an awareness of destiny.

 Today, Thanksgiving is a day filled with food, traditions, laughter, and often, a good dose of football. It can also be a time of reflection for those willing to take a step back. We are reminded that we are blessed! Gratitude overflows and includes a readiness to show appreciation to others for their kindness. Have we learned to be thankful and grateful? Are we experiencing a feeling of appreciation for the blessings? It is interesting to realize that gratitude includes an awareness of the struggles that we have somehow survived or escaped. Our thankfulness expresses both our gratefulness and our relief. We are pleased with the things that are going well in our lives, and grateful that we are not dealing with some of the very worst situations that life can bring.

Today, I am conscious of the need to cultivate gratitude. As the Pilgrims had to learn to cultivate new crops and recognize new food sources, we need to recognize that gratitude does not spring up without effort. We need to plant a seed, seeing other’s contribution to our lives. We need a willingness to water it with friendship and commitment. It includes an awareness of how the kindness of others has sustained us. Gratitude is fed by relationships of trust and a God who nurtures and cares for us.

As the Forefathers recognized that their very survival depended on the provision of God, I too recognize that I cannot thrive without depending on the God of blessing. His word states,

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ESV

Psalm 111:1-3 “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.”

Psalm 9:1 “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

This week as we gather with family and friends, let’s cultivate gratitude and be conscious of our blessings. Let’s decide to celebrate the abundance of good people and good food we enjoy, but also rejoice in the God who provides. 

Happy Thanksgiving!