Thankfulness

Stop.

Think about the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of Thanksgivings past. Release any hurts or anxieties around them. Thank God for the courage and joy these memories can bring.

Listen.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. – Psalm 34:8

Reflect.

Major holidays like Thanksgiving can bring up a mix of emotions. Sometimes, they inspire feelings of hope, comfort, love, and togetherness. Sometimes, they remind us of brokenness, anger, stress, and scarcity. This year, we might identify more with the latter than the former.   

And yet, the holiday is here. What can it mean for us? In this psalm of thanksgiving, the worshiper is invited to both taste and see God’s goodness. In other words, the fullness of God’s lovingkindness can be observed and can even be taken in through our daily bread. God’s goodness works powerfully in every single thing we need to live, whether it’s a special day or any day. 

Today, no matter what your holiday looks like or what it’s meant in the past, welcome any opportunity to fully experience God’s goodness. As our whole country pauses to consider thankfulness, let your heart be filled with gratitude for God’s abiding presence no matter what you have endured.

Pray.

I give you thanks, God. You have been with me throughout my life, in hard days and in joyful ones, and I know you go with me now. I praise your name and celebrate your goodness. Amen.

Carry On.

This holiday might be a little quieter than past ones. Plan one special thing you’ve never been able to do on Thanksgiving before. How can you make this unusual holiday a way to truly celebrate God’s goodness?