1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
In the US, this week is the beginning of the Thanksgiving week. It’s that time of the year that the country sets aside to give “thanks”. It always falls on the third Thursday in November.. It’s normally marked with the hustle and bustle of shopping, preparing the menu for family and friends, making travel arrangements and most importantly strategizing for ‘Black Friday” sales. In more recent years the sales begin that same day; Thursday. So the turkey hasn’t had time to digest and we are out trying to get in on all the deals available.
The holiday in and of itself is a wonderful idea, but truth be told, it is getting lost in all the little things that don’t matter. Not that I’m am advocating giving thanks on one designated day of the year, however even this day is getting lost in all the commercialization. There used to be a time when Christmas decorations won’t be put up till after thanksgiving but now it’s being put up right after Halloween. Businesses used to pride themselves in being closed on Thanksgiving Day so that their employees could enjoy the day with family, now they open earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving Day to lure people in for the much desired sales.
So I began to wonder, where has Thanksgiving gone?
Anyway, as Christians or just human beings we should make thanksgiving an everyday ritual. For the air we breathe, the food we eat, the mercies renewed, the blood of Jesus that was shed, the grace we live under are all reasons to say Thank You every day of our lives. The things we take for granted are the same things others will do anything to have. If we dwell in our bad circumstances, we will miss it. Besides there is always someone going through something worse. Just because of whom He is. Let’s resolve to thank Him now and everyday regardless of what we are going through.
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick
Unoma Nwankwor 