Thanksgiving is More Than a Day

I cannot speak for you but I have so much to be thankful for. My wife is a source of support and joy and enriches my life every day. Those children and grandchildren of ours are such a blessing, such a source of joy. We are not wealthy by American standards but our needs and wants are taken care of. And our Lord has not only provided an abundance for us in this life, He has given us the hope of everlasting life in Him.

Unfortunately, like many people, I too often lose sight of all the wonderful blessings He has given me and focus too much on the problems of this world. I worry and permit those worries to steal my joy. Paul encourages his Philippian readers to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [emphasis mine], (Philippians 4:4-7)

As a young man I worked with a preacher who spent a good deal of time trying to impress people. Every Sunday morning for four weeks this man stood before the congregation and prayed, “Thank you Laorrd for all the vicissitudes (said quickly with the emphasis on the third syllable.) of life and we praise you for them.” The context of the prayer indicated that a vicissitude was something you would eat for supper similar in use to the term “victual.” I suspected that the man had no idea what the word meant, had heard it someplace, and decided using it would make him appear more intelligent than he really was. Being a curious fellow and not wanting to thank the Lord for something questionable, I checked with Mr. Webster. Finding that a vicissitude was a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance, or it may be a difficulty or hardship in life, I knew the man had no clue. Or did he?

Our God is in control of this universe. I do not believe that things happen by chance or fate. But on the other hand, do not even many of the difficulties we face in life temper us and make us better people as we rely on Him by faith? Cannot the ups and downs of our lives hone us to become better tools in His service? Maybe I should be as thankful for the vicissitudes as I am the victuals.

The Psalmist tells us to “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100)

The Psalmist understood that thanksgiving was not a day but an attitude of life.

~ from A Yellow Raincoat & Other Memories