Giving of Thanks! Heart of Thanks!

What are you thankful for today? or this year?

Is it possible that some of the pain, struggle, frustration, and conflict in our lives could be because of something we are overlooking?

In our day and age, we think that feeling thankful is the same as giving thanks, and they are worlds apart. It takes energy to be intentional to stop what's happening and say, "Yes, I've received these gifts and I am thankful for the gift", but thankfulness is more than a feeling, it is an act where you go back from the gifts to the giver and you acknowledge he gave them. The credit, honor, and glory needs to go to the one who gave it. 

Did any of your worry about eating this week? Probably not. Many of your own homes, even if they may have some great physical problems, the majority of you are healthy. You all have people who like and love you. You live in the most prosperous nation in the world, yet, we take this all for granted and move out on the gifts instead of going back to the giver and give thanks.

It is impolite inconsistent, not very nice, and socially inappropriate. Why? Because in our culture we've grown up thinking that thanksgiving is either just another day to remember once a year, or it is a social etiquette. It is important, it is something that is taught to young children. You know? Like your Uncle Joe and Aunt Judy, you are three years old, they give you a piece of candy, what did your parents say? "Chip, what do you say to Uncle Joe?" "Thank you, Uncle Joe." And then you get a little pat on the head or kiss, right?

Then you get a little old and some sends you a gift. "Call your grandparents tell them you are thankful." "Okay." You get a little old, yet, and you get married, what do you have to do? Write out the "Thank You" cards. Why? Because you know it is the very socially appropriate thing to do, to give thanks.

But the flow is more from a sense of violating a social standard then theology, than much sense of a deep meaning. The theological statement is that when we fail to give credit where credit is due, the lack of giving thanks is robbing the glory to the giver.

Life is not easy, it is not a fairy tale, it doesn't always come out the way we plan or want. We are human and giving thanks is serious business. Why? As mentioned above, it acknowledges that we are giving thanks to the giver and creator. It keeps us from even because if forces us to focus on what we do have instead of on what we don't have. "Thank you" for the bummer of a car you have.

Around Thanksgiving is a time that we really think about times of thankfulness, extra "special" or visual. But I do not want it to begin and end with the Thanksgiving holiday. I want it to be the everyday thing. So this year, why not start something to start your day out right, when sitting around the breakfast or dinner table, share what you are thankful for.