Heartfelt Appreciation – in the Most Literal Sense

This time of year, I observe an anniversary of sorts. On Dec. 20, 2006, I experienced a literal heart-rending moment. I underwent open-heart surgery to fix an aortic aneurysm and correct several arterial blockages. I spent that Christmas in the hospital recuperating, away from my family’s festivities, but I could rejoice that I was still around.

 

Eighteen years later, thanks to God, a skillful surgeon and excellent cardiologists, I’m still writing, reading, exercising, taking photos, playing a little pickleball – and most important, getting to spend time with my wife, our children, grandchildren and great-grands.

 

Procedures like I had aren’t all that rare. I’ve talked with a number of people in the years since, sharing my experiences and encouraging them, whether they were preparing for similar surgery or had just undergone surgery. That doesn’t mean the procedure is easy. It’s a major operation, one of the most serious a person can go through, and the recovery is slow and time-consuming.

 

Every morning upon waking up I recognize the new day is a gift – undeserved – and I can pray along with the psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

 

Almost every day we hear of someone who has had a heart attack, but I suspect most of us take for granted the amazing muscle that beats non-stop during our entire lifetime, keeping blood pulsing through our bodies. 

 

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Let’s say your own heart rate is 72 per minute. That means in one hour, your heart beats 4,320 times. During a 24-hour day, it beats more than 100,000 times. Over the course of an entire year, it beats nearly 38 million times. That’s hard to comprehend.

 

Simple calculation tells me that in the 18 years since my surgery, my heart has beat well over 600 million times! That is, except for the brief time I was on a heart-lung machine, allowing my heart to stop so my cardiothoracic surgeon could make the necessary repairs – including an entirely new ascending aorta. Again, thankfully when the work was completed, my heart resumed beating upon being taken off the heart-lung apparatus.

 

I recall that in the days leading up to the surgery, I turned to the Psalms for comfort and assurance. One particular verse jumped out at me, as if it were printed in neon lights. It read, “The Lord will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness” (Psalm 41:3). I encountered that passage during my regular daily reading; even if God had spoken it to me audibly it couldn’t have been clearer – or reassuring.

 

That experience has confirmed for me, more than ever, of the truth of Psalm 139:13-14, “For You created my inmost being…. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

 

Think about it: Every six months or so (if not more often), we need to bring our cars in for oil changes and other maintenance. The average car doesn’t last more than 10 years. Most appliances have an even shorter lifespan. Many buildings are erected only to be torn down 20-30 years later. But God has created our bodies in such a way that our hearts continue beating non-stop for 60, 70, 80 years – or even longer. And most of the time, without requiring invasive surgery to correct maladies.

 

We could make similar reflections about other vital organs, but the point is that in the human body the Lord created a marvelous organism that all of our ingenuity – even with its many advancements – cannot begin to replicate, much less make from scratch.

 

I’m eternally grateful to God for giving medical science the wisdom and skill to keep me ‘upright and taking nourishment,’ as they say, all these years since. It’s not a journey I would recommend for everyone, but if and when it becomes necessary, we worship a Great Physician who has put us together and knows how to fix us so we can keep going.

 

In 2 Timothy 4:7, the apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” It seems my race is not yet finished, but my prayer is that in the days, months and even years to come, I will stay true to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and when the time comes for my heart to beat for the last time, I will have finished well. I also pray that all who read this will be able to say the same.

The Amazing Thing About Being Born in Bethlehem

This scene at Lookout Mountain's Rock City depicts the birth of Christ.

You don’t have to be a follower of Jesus Christ to know He was born in the tiny, nondescript town of Bethlehem. The well-known Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” ensures that. But have you ever considered that His birth there was practically a miracle?

 

Scholars tell us Jesus’ life, crucifixion and resurrection all were foretold by many prophecies, but none was more significant than that Bethlehem would be His birthplace. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah foretold, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

 

One of the historical marvels about Jesus is that He fulfilled every prophecy concerning the Messiah, including where He would be born. If He had failed to fulfill even one of the prophetic declarations, He wouldn’t have qualified as the promised Messiah.

But how did it come about that Bethlehem would be His place of birth? After all, Joseph – who would serve as His earthly father – and Mary, Joseph’s betrothed wife, resided in Nazareth, about 90 miles from Bethlehem. Being poor, without horses or camels available to them, and certainly not motorized transport, this trek wasn’t one they would have undertaken unless absolutely necessary.

 

Bethlehem wasn’t a vacation hotspot by any stretch of the imagination. But when Caesar Augustus decreed that everyone must return to his hometown to be counted in a census, distance and convenience didn’t matter. So, Joseph and Mary, with child by the Holy Spirit, packed up and headed for Bethlehem, the “town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David” (Luke 2:4).

 

At the time, neither Joseph nor Mary fully comprehended the magnitude of what was happening in their lives. The prophecy had clearly stated that Bethlehem, not Nazareth or any of the other towns and cities in the region, would be where the Messiah was born, but that wasn’t their reason for going there.

 

Not only was the census decree itself providential, but also its timing. Because, as preacher John MacArthur observed in one of his Christmas messages, if the decree had been issued weeks or months earlier – or later – Jesus would have been born elsewhere, thus negating the prophecy. As it happened, “While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (Luke 2:6).

 

Why does this matter? And what does this mean for us today? For one thing, knowing that thousands of years earlier the Messiah’s birthplace had been accurately prophesied shows that our Lord is not just the God of the big picture, but also the God of meticulous detail. There’s no room for happenstance in His divine planning. And that applies for us in whatever circumstances we’re facing.

 

Confidence in the prophecy also was why a group of wise men from the east, commonly known as Magi, undertook the arduous, time-consuming and costly journey from their homes in the Babylonian empire to Bethlehem. They understood the prophecies, dating back to the days of Daniel, so when they saw the star – God’s Positioning System (GPS) – they saddled up their camels, Bethlehem-bound.

 

No one knows for certain how long after Jesus’ birth they arrived, but what’s important is that He and His earthly parents were still there. We’re told, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh” (Luke 2:11). 

 

They, as well as shepherds that angels had alerted on the holy night of Jesus’ birth, were among the first eyewitnesses to the exact fulfillment of prophecies made thousands of years earlier. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that Caesar Augustus had decreed the census at precisely the right time; that Joseph’s lineage required him to return to Bethlehem, taking Mary with him; and that the wise men had correctly calculated when and where the promised King would be born.

 

As Christ followers, we need to trust in the veracity of the Bible, from start to finish. The fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth was just the first of many prophetic writings He would fulfill during His life on earth, including details about His betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.

 

During this Christmas season, whenever we glimpse a Nativity scene, it can serve as a reminder that God doesn’t make empty promises. When we read His promises to us in the Scriptures, we can have complete assurance that our Lord says what He will do, and does what He says.

Seeking the Light in the Season of Light

This image from a Jacquie Lawson e-card captures
the festivities of "the season of light."

Among the many nicknames for Christmas is “the season of light.” And rightfully so. Everywhere we look there are lights: Festive lights prominently displayed in malls and retail stores. City streets and roadways adorned with colorful lights and holiday images. Neighborhoods gaily illuminated in red, green, white and other colors. 

The Christmas tree in our home offers lighting options – all-white, all-colored lights, and if we can’t make up our mind, the lights alternate between all-white and all-colored.

 

Christmas lights have a rich tradition. Since the holiday is celebrated in December, bright lights provide a stark contrast to the cold days and dark nights we typically experience in the Northern Hemisphere. Before the advent of electricity, candles dispelled the oppressive darkness. Even today, many people employ candles to celebrate the season, whether with actual flames or those designed to replicate flickering flames but without the risk of fire.

The greatest light of all, of course, is the One for whom Christmas is celebrated. As John 8:12, tells us “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’.”

 

This is a declaration far more profound than artificial decorations that we drag out of storage, display for several weeks and then pack away again. In fact, literally from the very start, light is a recurring theme in the Bible. 

 

Opening the creation account, according to Genesis 1:3-4. “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” 

 

In one of my devotional readings recently, the writer observed, “The Bible promises there is no darkness in God at all. That means there is no deceit, no underhandedness, no selfishness, and no manipulation. God never deceives, never misleads and never manipulates.” What a vast difference from the world in which we live, work and play.

 

Our world is hopelessly broken. If you haven’t already realized that, you can easily recognize it in ways you probably wished you didn’t. Suicides, depression, families torn apart, addictions – all are symptoms of the increasing darkness that’s surrounding us, threatening our very souls. For this reason, isn’t it good news – wonderful news – that God’s desire is to cast aside the darkness, inviting us into His incomparable light? 

 

In 1 John 1:5-7 we find this promise: “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you. God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

 

On TV and in the movies, often mysteries and crime dramas unfold at night, when it’s dark and heinous acts can be carried out unseen. When the opening scene is dark, it’s a good bet that some bad stuff is about to happen. Unfortunately, in the real world the darkness caused by sin doesn’t happen only after sundown. All we have to do is watch the evening news for proof.

 

However, because of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, teachings, death and resurrection, we can know that darkness and sin are not the victors. The apostle John, opening his narrative about Jesus, make this statement: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4-5).

 

Have you noticed that light and darkness can’t coexist? When you enter a darkened room and turn on a light, darkness scatters. In a far more profound way, when Christ crashes into our lives, the darkness in our own hearts is dispelled, replaced by His incomparable light – a light that doesn’t fade over time.

 

Years ago, I came across this incredible assurance, one that continues to astound me to this day: “…I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). 

 

This “new commandment,” as I’ve come to understand it, is that relying solely on our own devices, we might desire to do right and overcome our struggles with sin but fail repeatedly. Only through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ, by His Spirit, can we escape the overwhelming darkness and stand tall in His wonderful light.

 

Much more could be said about this. Suffice it to say, as we enjoy the glorious lights of this “season of light,” whether streaming from streetlights, draped in malls and retail stores, or gleaming from our own Christmas trees, we should remember what they symbolize: Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Wrestling With Temptation – and Overcoming It

You’ve probably heard about the guy who said, “I can overcome everything except temptation”? Maybe you’ve said or thought something like that yourself. Temptations of every kind surround us, as pervasive as the air we breathe. And during this Christmas season, with commercials and ads bombarding us on TV, social media and phone apps, temptation seems to be surging at a frenetic rate.

It all started with Adam and Eve. They saw that first temptation – to eat of the one tree God told them not to eat from – and decided it was too enticing to resist. The result was the first sin, what theologians call “The Fall,” and humanity’s been wrestling with a sin problem ever since.

 

Temptation comes in many forms, and what’s tempting for you might not be tempting for me – and vice versa. (Emphasis on vice.) Centuries ago, someone in Christian tradition came up with a list of the “seven deadly sins”: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. But even those ‘big seven’ can manifest themselves in countless ways.

 

Lust might involve sexual desires, but can also pertain to lusting for a car, a house, a boat, an item of jewelry or piece of furniture. Anything that generates strong passion or longing, such as the lust for power or influence, or for prestige and prominence. 

 

When we think of greed, fictional characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and King Midas immediately come to mind. Individuals for whom too much was never enough. One translation of 1 Timothy 6:10 declares that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil.” It does not say that money is the root of everything evil, but money’s tempting powers are definitely manifested in a multitude of ways.

 

Gluttony is an interesting sin because it’s often overlooked. When was the last time you went to an all-you-can-eat church supper and found someone at the end of the line looking at your plate and saying, “Now, that’s all you can eat”?

 

Personally, I think that if there’s an actual root for every kind of evil it’s pride. Because pride – excessive regard for oneself without being concerned about the interests of others – seems to undergird every one of the big sins, and probably all of the smaller ones, too.

 

However, as I’ve often told men I was discipling and mentoring, temptation isn’t sin. Temptation is being presented with the opportunity to sin. Sin itself is acting upon the specific temptation, deciding it seems like a good idea.

 

How do we know that temptation and sin aren’t synonymous? Because as we read about Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2:18, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Later in the same book we’re told, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

 

Putting it simply, we don’t have to confess or repent being tempted. Because even Jesus was tempted. Confession and repentance are needed when we succumb to temptation – whatever it is – and commit sinful thoughts or actions.

 

The question is how do we successfully deal with temptations, fending them off so they don’t lead to sinful behavior? We can be heartened in knowing that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, experienced temptation. We can’t offer the excuse, ‘But Lord, you don’t understand.’ Because He indeed can and does understand, having faced similar temptations – and probably worse than any we could imagine.

 

This is why the next verse in Hebrews assures us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). God promises to provide the strength and wisdom necessary.

 

Another passage speaks directly and clearly to this perplexing issue of temptation and how to overcome it. The apostle Paul wrote to the ancient church in Corinth, offering this counsel: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

 

These verses contain several important points. First is the warning: If we’re feeling smug, with an attitude of ‘I’ve got this. No problem,’ beware. That might be the time we’re most vulnerable. History is littered with sad stories of spiritual ‘giants’ who fell into sins they felt confident could never touch them.

 

The second point is whatever it is, the temptation we’re facing isn’t unique. We haven’t discovered some unknown sin no one has ever experienced before. We’re not the first ones to ever deal with the temptation we might be wrestling with right now. 

 

One other key point is that in His faithfulness God promises He won’t allow us to face temptations beyond our capacity to cope with them. If we’re willing to let Him, the Lord will always provide ways out of temptation. “A way of escape,” as another translation states it.

 

An old friend, a diabetic, admitted having a weakness for Krispy Kreme donuts. He often would drive past the donut shop when its red neon sign was on, “Fresh Donuts,” beckoning to potential customers. For my friend, the ‘way of escape’ was to keep driving and resist the temptation to turn into the parking lot.

 

Temptations are everywhere. We don’t have to look for them. They’ll find us. But they don’t need to defeat us. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “I can do everything through [Christ] who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Including overcoming temptation.

Resolving the Giving Conundrum

We’ve just passed Giving Tuesday, the last of the pecuniary “triplets” of the Christmas season, following the Black Friday and Cyber Monday opportunities for eager shoppers. Giving Tuesday is probably the most important of the three, with so many charitable organizations dependent on the generosity of their supporters.

 

This issue of giving can be a bit perplexing for me. I’m not reluctant to give charitably, but so many causes deserve consideration. How do we respond to a seemingly unlimited number of possibilities with limited funds for giving?

 

My mailboxes – both email and snail mail – have been deluged by solicitations to support a wide range of needs, from hospitals to the homeless, from discipleship to diseases, from missions to Christian media. Unless you’re a millionaire – even a billionaire – you can’t support them all. How do you choose?

 

Searching the Scriptures won’t provide specifics, like ‘Support XYZ Ministry’ or ‘Give to That Foundation.’ But in His Word, God does provide clear principles on the how’s of giving, if not necessarily the what’s and the who’s. The Lord’s greatest concern, I’ve concluded, is not who benefits from our giving but the motives behind our giving.

 

Giving and generosity can be difficult to discuss, but something stirs when we hear heartwarming stories of generous, unselfish acts. The response to recent hurricanes is one example. While government agencies seemed to be spinning their wheels at times, debating what to do, individuals and Christian organizations like Samaritan’s Purse were quick to take action.

 

But we don’t have to wait for calamities to occur. Generosity can and should be a normal part of everyday life, like breathing and eating. While one doesn’t have to be a follower of Jesus Christ to be generous, giving becomes part of our “spiritual DNA” when we become “new creations in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

 

It was Jesus Christ who declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He also addressed this ‘reciprocal’ aspect of giving in another way: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

 

It would seem, according to Jesus, that if we’re willing to share from the resources the Lord has provided, He’s quite able to replace what we’ve given with more – so we can continue to be involved in this divine cycle of generosity. 

 

I’ve had the privilege of meeting and writing about numerous individuals whose commitment to giving was lavish by any standard. Industrialist R. G. LeTourneau practiced a “reverse tithe” – giving away 90% of his income and keeping 10% – rather than ‘give 10 and keep 90’ as it’s traditionally taught. 

 

Entrepreneur Stanley Tam, who died in 2023 at the age of 107, explained in his book, God Owns My Business, how he arranged to legally give 100% ownership of his company to God, with all profits used to support charitable causes and mission work. When I interviewed him, Tam quipped, without boasting, “I shovel out, and God’s shovels in. And God’s got a bigger shovel.” Wise counsel indeed from someone who practiced what he preached. 

 

Most of us, of course, aren’t in a position to take such bold steps. We may not have the spiritual gift of giving, which those men definitely had. But this doesn’t excuse us from being generous whenever God sets opportunities in front of us. Which brings us back to the conundrum: With so many worthy causes, how do we decide which to support personally?

 

Most would agree we each should start with our own churches, where we’re ministered to through worship services and other programs, and want to support their work. But I don’t believe they should be the only recipients of our charitable gifts. 

 

There’s no exact formula for singling out other beneficiaries. But we can rely on God’s leading through His Spirit, as well as recognizing which causes we feel particularly passionate about.

 

Over the years I’ve found two Bible passages especially instructive. One of them is 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 which says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 

 

The word “cheerful” could literally be translated as “hilarious.” I think of the closing scenes of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in which transformed Ebenezer Scrooge begins bestowing his wealth on others rather than hoarding it for himself. Having abandoned his miserly ways, Scrooge becomes giddy upon realizing how generosity can enhance the lives of others.

 

If we’re giving grudgingly or feeling compelled to do so, that doesn’t please the Lord. He wants us to give freely – and excitedly.

 

One other verse also is helpful in reminding us that giving is not a seasonal activity. In 1 John 3:17 we’re told, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” This doesn’t mean having to respond to every panhandler we encounter, but the Lord can give us the wisdom and discernment in how best to steward the resources He has entrusted to our care.

 

If God loved us so much that He gave His own Son for our salvation and redemption, how can we refuse to give as He guides?

Finding True Meaning in ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

They’ve already started – conversations, discussions and commentaries about ‘the real meaning of Christmas.’ As if it were a topic for debate, like what color to paint the living room. The holiday rom-com movies are posing their opinions, TV commercials are offering their points of view, and familiar seasonal songs are presenting all manner of Christmas sentiments.

 

It’s heartening that a new movie, which some have already proclaimed “a Christmas classic,” provides an answer to the real-meaning-of-Christmas question that’s consistent with the biblical account. Based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” offers a glimpse of annual Nativity reenactments in a way most of us have never seen or imagined.

How do you suppose people in a church would react if a gaggle of troublemakers showed up at auditions for their cherished Christmas pageant and demanded to be stars of the show? In “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” that’s exactly what happens. The Herdmans, six rabble rousing siblings deemed to be “the worst kids in the world,” decide to take over the town’s “sacred” tradition.

 

They steal schoolmates’ lunches, pelt neighbor kids with snowballs, use rough language, and terrorize everyone they encounter, including adults. How could youngsters like these ever be considered to take part in a calm, “we’ve always done it this way” presentation of Christ’s birth? This is what’s so compelling about the film directed by Dallas Jenkins, best-known as the director, producer and co-writer of “The Chosen” video series about Jesus Christ and His followers. 

 

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is at once heartwarming, humorous, thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and maybe even a little convicting. We know Jesus came to save sinners like us – but for sinners like the Herdmans, too?

 

In the minds of some, the all-too-familiar Christmas story might provoke a ho-hum attitude, maybe a bit of a yawn. Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus swaddled in a feeding trough because of the inn that had no room for them. Shepherds, sheep and other barnyard animals, wise men, and angels. We know that story. Been there, done that. This is where “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” triumphs. It affords an opportunity to look at this timeless biblical narrative with fresh eyes.

 

The Herdmans, you see, have never heard the story. They know nothing about Mary, or Joseph, whom Imogene, ringleader of the Herdmans, calls “Joe.” They’re astounded that a king – Herod – would want to kill a little baby. And the way the angel gets the shepherds’ attention isn’t quite what we have envisioned from the Scriptures.

 

Prior to the film’s release, Jenkins said capturing Robinson’s book for the silver screen has been a lifelong dream. He, his production team and the cast have done an outstanding job, its tone evoking such holiday classics as “A Christmas Story” and “Miracle on 34^th Street.” And with an unapologetic declaration of the Gospel message.

 

In Luke 2:10, the angel declares to the lowly shepherds – who had no social clout in those days – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Watching the Herdmans absorb the Christmas story and undergo a slow but certain transformation, like butterflies emerging from a nondescript cocoon, we realize perhaps more than ever that this “good news of great joy” truly is for all the people.

 

Isaiah 9:6 gives the prophecy, “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Somehow, as we view this greatest story of stories through the eyes of a bunch of ragamuffins called the Herdmans, these words take on even greater meaning. Indeed, the true meaning of Christmas.

This is a film for the entire family. For many it will surely prove a highlight of the entire Christmas season. I’m eager to see it again. 

Changes in Attitude, Changes in Gratitude

Many of us remember the popular song by the late country legend Jimmy Buffett, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” Featuring a lilting Caribbean beat, the tune reflects on how traveling to different places can greatly alter one’s perspective. With the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration upon us this week, it might be fitting to revise that a bit to: Changes in Attitude, Changes in Gratitude. 

Because despite all the heartwarming commercials and seasonal movies that depict loving, happy and harmonious families overflowing with gratitude, more than a few people are probably wondering, ‘Thankful for what?’ 

 

The past weeks, months, even year might have been difficult for you. Perhaps prolonged inflation has put a tremendous strain on your finances. Maybe you have lost a loved one, or experienced the devastation of a cherished relationship that’s been broken. Or serious health issues have overshadowed all else, making it hard to feel thankful about anything.

Problems like these, as well as others, can cast a pall on a season that should be festive and joyous. How can we overcome this?

 

At such times I often think of my friend Albert, who with his family has experienced more hardship in life than most of us could imagine. And yet, he’s managed to maintain a positive, upbeat perspective in life. In fact, he wrote a booklet about his life that he titled, “Saying ‘Thank You’ Even When You Don’t Feel Thankful.”

 

This might sound strange to some, but it’s consistent with what the Scriptures teach us. One of the first Bible verses I learned admonishes us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It doesn’t say to give thanks in some circumstances, or to give thanks when things are going well. It says, “in all circumstances.”

 

Admittedly, this is more easily said than done. But over and over we see examples in the Bible of people going through great trials yet managing to remain thankful. As King David wrote, “If I say ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day and darkness is as light to You” (Psalm 139:11-12).

 

The apostles Paul and James write that we should “rejoice in our sufferings…” (Romans 5:3-5), and “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…” (James 1:2-4).

 

How is this possible? We could attribute it to changes in attitude, changes in gratitude. Each of these important individuals in the Bible had gone through great adversity but discovered how even in the most difficult times, God was in the midst of them. They understood the truth of Romans 8:28, that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

 

There’s another good reason for choosing thankfulness and gratitude in life, even when those seem contrary to what we’re going through at the time. An article published on Epoch Health, a department of the Epoch Times online newspaper, was titled, “Gratitude: An Alternative Medicine for Anger and Depression.”

 

It discussed a scientific study in 2012 that discovered individuals who cultivated and practiced gratitude experienced lower levels of aggression, even after they had been insulted. By comparison, people in a control group – who did not practice attitudes of gratitude – experienced higher levels of aggression when insulted.

 

This study, that appeared in Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that “those practicing gratitude were significantly less likely to retaliate against others. This correlation is akin to laughter interrupting physical exertion: Just as it is impossible to continue a strenuous workout while laughing, gratitude elicits a psychological state where aggression and anger find little foothold.”

The conclusion was that the impact of gratitude for displacing hostile feelings shows it to be a personal virtue, a useful tool for the fostering of positive social interactions.

 

Another study published in 2005 showed the act of writing thank-you letters increased participants’ happiness by 10 percent – and reduced their depressive symptoms by 35 percent. And apparently this was not a short-term effect. The article says, “These feelings were sustained up to six months after writing the letter, highlighting the powerful effect of [thankfulness].”

 

Moral of the story? If you’re feeling down as the Thanksgiving Day holiday approaches, determine to be thankful anyway. Practice an attitude of gratitude – even if you can’t, as the Jimmy Buffett tune suggests, change your latitude.

 

As Psalm 118:24 declares, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is true for Thanksgiving Day, and for every day. If He’s given us a new day, and we believe that He is good – which He is – we can and should rejoice and be glad in it. Happy Thanksgiving!