Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends enjoying good food and good times. This year things may be a bit different, but it still is a time to think about all one should be thankful for in life.
Being thankful is something that some fail to realize is a command from God and it should not be overlooked. Paul wrote to Timothy about this subject. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” (1 Tim. 2:1),then in the second epistle he wrote, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2). Being thankful should be the part of each person’s life every day.
Those who are older now thank God for days when aches and pains are not quite so severe, while younger folks never think to thank God for such days. The Psalmist wrote many times of the need to be thankful to God for His blessings He bestows. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations” (Ps. 100:4, 5). In another place he wrote, “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 107:1). Many times, people get so caught up in their cares they forget their blessings. There is an adage about just such people. The person on crutches complaining – who sees a man with no legs or the man with six kids needing shoes – or the family with one child that cannot walk. The Person with treatable cancer – who hears of a person being terminal So many times we need to realize how blessed we are in the situation we are in, rather than having a woe is me attitude about everything.
This year some people may complain that they cannot be gathered with their family like always, but there may be someone who has no family to social distance from anytime. Even in a time such as this one should remember and take advantage of the blessings God has provided man. Technology exists today so that families can see and hear each other almost every day. It is not as good as getting to hug someone or enjoy a mom’s home cooking, but it still is an opportunity to visit and enjoy talking together.
God has blessed man with so many physical innovations, but God has truly blessed man when it comes to spiritual blessings. Man was blessed when God created him and placed him in the Garden of Eden. When man sinned God blessed man again by giving man the promise of a savior. God always keeps His promises and He sent Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. Without the shedding of Jesus blood there could have been no forgiveness.
God also blessed man by inspiring men to write down God’s words so man would be able to know what to do to be saved (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Man has so much to thank God for both physically and spiritually. Man could not have life itself if it were not for God and there would be no hope of eternal life if it were not for God blessing man. All need to be thankful to God for all blessings.