Happy Thanksgiving

Plutarch who lived from 46-120 A.D. once wrote, “The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.”

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. While it is not a religious holiday or holy day, it’s good for us to be reminded of the many blessings we enjoy for which we ought to be thankful. As our hearts are humbled by thankfulness, our praise, appreciation, and adoration for our Creator is elevated.

For Christians, every day is thanksgiving day. As my friend, fellow blogger and preaching colleague, Roger Shouse wrote, “For disciples of Jesus, being thankful doesn’t surround a Thursday in November, but it’s an expression of the heart every day.”

And so, as we take a short break holiday break, in this final post until December, we want to extend to our readers a very heartfelt “HAPPY THANKSGIVING.”

In the spirit of Paul’s command, “In everything give thanks,” (1 Thess 5:18), here’s a wonderful poem by an unknown poet that may help spark your thankfulness for many things we take for granted every day.

“Thank You, God, for a Hundred Things”

Thank you, God, for a hundred things —
For the flower that blooms, for the bird that sings,
For the sun that shines, And the rain that drops,
For ice cream and raisins and lollipops.

Thank you, God, for the gift of time —
For the clocks that tick, and the bells that chime,
For days gone by, And future cheers,
And seasons, and moments, for hours and years.

Thanks for the people who give life pizzazz —
For folks who play sports, those who act and play jazz,
For friends and for families, For folks of all races,
For hands that give help and for bright smiling faces.

Thanks for the planet you give as our home —
For the sky with its clouds, for the oceans’ white foam,
For the creatures and critters, The lakes, falls and fountains,
For hills and for valleys, for canyons and mountains.

Thank you, God, for the gift of your Son —
For the love Jesus shared, for the battle He won
Over death, for the promise That He would be near
To lead and to guide and to hold us so dear.

Thank you, God, for a hundred things —
For autumn and pumpkins, for dragonfly wings,
For Thanksgiving dinners, For sea sides and shore,
For a hundred things, and a thousand things more!

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman