Church

When do we stop being thankful?

I guess that’s why designating just one day for thanksgiving is misleading.  My understanding is that we give thanks all the time, in every situation.

Now, I enjoyed the weekend!  We had a great church service with baptisms, baby dedication, membership and communion all packed into one service.  And over the weekend I met with my siblings and parents, and my children were home.

So, I’m thankful for thanksgiving weekend.  But I have to keep reminding myself that all the time is thanksgiving time.

Today is our 31st wedding anniversary.  For this I am thankful.  My wife has been a faithful companion and joins me in putting God first.  And that’s where thanksgiving really starts.

Happy thanksgiving — all the time!

Here we are!  I’m having trouble uploading the picture.

So, just imagine 21 people, great turkey and good conversation.  That’s just the beginning.  Two children under 2.  Two adults over 70.  A wide range of discussion.  Laughter, singing and a joyous celebration.  Just what the soul needs!!

I guess life is often waiting for thanksgiving.  The attitude of gratitude doesn’t spring up as often and as spontaneously as we would like.

The talk shows yesterday focused on being thankful.  Parents, and wealth and good jobs and nice weather and healthy pets can all become items on the list.  My list would also include our children and good shelter and the friends we worship with.

And that’s where thanksgiving becomes a true "holiday".  When we ask to whom we are thankful — for to be thankful begs that question — most would struggle to gave a very nebulous, abstract or general reply.  They know they have it good, but they don’t know who to acknowledge for that goodness.

Well, today we will sit at meal with my family — all the living siblings will be there, and my mom and dad will be glad to see us all.  Based on year’s of faith and thankfulness to God in their own lives, I expect they will direct our thoughts to Jesus Christ’s gifts to us and remind us to be thankful to Him.  Others of us will share our own personal journeys and, in the end, will also land on God’s graciousness to us.

So, let me start  the festivities by acknowledging my thankfulness to God.  May this weekend (for us Canadians — and I hope for others as well) be thanksfilled!

Here we are — in the famous land called "Luseland".  We are a group of pastors from the region around Kindersley.  We meet to support one another, encourage growth in each other, and to re-create.  That’s what we did!