A Post Thanksgiving Devotion

That I may proclaim, with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all thy wonders. Psalm 26:7

As a child in elementary school, I remember pictures of overflowing cornucopias, colorful turkeys, some of which were made from the handprints of children in the class, while others were assembled out of different colored construction paper, their feather-like shapes glued onto another sheet of paper, forming the perfect gobbler, and then there were the friendly looking Pilgrim and Indian cutouts, clasping each others hands in friendship.

These familiar Thanksgiving images hung on the bulletin boards, windows, doors, and any spare wall space, giving a festive feel to the place, but the thing that is highlighted most in my memory, is the sharing time after the telling of the first Thanksgiving story. Seated in a circle on the floor, each child was given the opportunity to share what they were thankful for, and with no prompting from the teacher, each mentioned God in their response.

“I am thankful to God, for my mommy and daddy.” “I am thankful to God for my dog, Shep! He is a good dog.” “I am thankful to God for my daddy having a job.” “I am thankful to God for my Hot Wheels.” “I am thankful to God for my Chrissy Doll.” And on and on it went until each child proclaimed with a voice of thanksgiving, to God, the wonders that they were thankful for. It was atomically understood that we needed to be thankful and to Whom our thanksgiving flowed.

Some three hundred plus years have gone by since the first Thanksgiving celebration and I find it remarkable that as a country, we continue to set aside a National day of being thankful. Sadly there are many that will not observe the real meaning behind the day, for them it will be about food and football, but still they are gathering together, breaking bread, perhaps unknowingly, but in memory of what began so long ago. A time of rejoicing that the harvest was plentiful, and that God had seen them through another year.

We as believers in Christ Jesus, have much to be thankful for every day, not just once a year. Starting today, why not begin to walk in an attitude of gratitude toward the One from Whom all our blessings flow. If you do not do it already, begin to practice the art of thanksgiving on a regular basis, and you will find that your life will be different, for a thankful heart is at peace and gives life to the body and a happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Thank You O’Lord Our Savior for Thy Loving kindness to us and this great nation. Bless us O’ Lord, in the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.