Thanksgiving

One of the phrases that get overworked in our day is: you are so blessed, or, you are such a blessing, as if the person being spoken to has received or given some great act of charity. However, these phrases miss the whole point of what it means to be blessed; there is no better reflection on this than at this time of thanksgiving.

The Biblical understanding of blessing begins with God who has given us his creation in which we exist. But the blessing is not complete until we return thanks to God for this creation – a gift without thanksgiving is not a blessing. Consequently, both parts of the blessing must exist together – giving and thanking.

Scripture is filled with examples of God’s people getting and giving thanks in return; the most telling of Jesus’ comments on this back-and-forth relationship is given in the parable of the healing of the men with leprosy – the lone man came to Jesus to thank him for the gift of healing, but Jesus is upset as he asks: where are the other nine? Jesus says that we must, it is our duty, to give thanks to God. (Please note, I also find those who keep saying: thank you Jesus for my parking place don’t understand what giving is about when we speak about God giving to us.)

Thanksgiving Day was a time when people flocked to their respective churches to give God particular thanks for the harvest and returned home to eat too much of the gift. Today we don’t see congregations, singly or together, gathering to give public thanks - that activity has now become a private activity. We are not exempt from giving thanks at all times.  We are to be alert to the world around us and God’s action in it through each of us – for which we must give thanks. Wonderful words from a dear friend.

Enjoy all the Blessings, both that can be given and received, in Gods Name.

God Bless you and Keep you.

Chev. Lydell