Thankful

"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

As we celebrate a time of thanksgiving, the first item on my list is thankfulness itself. In a world where the focus of the pilgrims' Thanksgiving is often omitted from our history textbooks, we should be grateful that we have a thankful heart. In a society where public prayers are often prohibited, those of us who understand the meaning of worshiping the living God should be thankful for whatever circumstances have brought us to the consciousness that we have.

I'm thankful I was born in a time when even the television characters still customarily went to church! I'm thankful that during the first three years of my education, the public school teachers were still allowed to begin the day with Bible reading and prayer. I'm thankful I grew up in an area that had churches on every corner and where church attendance was the norm and not the exception.

Today we live in a society that has a leftover Bart Simpson attitude of, "It's all paid for, so thanks for nothing." The only time many children hear the name of our Savior is when their parents use His name in vain. To many, Thanksgiving is just a day of food, floats, and football. For some, it's less than that.

I could have been born in an area where the community youth group is typically called a gang. I could still be waiting to hear the name of Jesus spoken lovingly by someone who knows Him personally. I could be cold, calloused, scornful and empty. I could be many things other than thankful.

But somehow, by the grace of God, I was born to a family who loved me. I was nurtured by a community that cared about my soul. And I was ransomed by a Savior who gave His life for me. So before I even begin to count my other blessings, I'm thankful that I'm thankful.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:15-17