Why Thanksgiving – and Giving Thanks – Are So Important

Thanksgiving Day can bring many things to mind: Mouthwatering aromas emanating from the kitchen. A festive table covered with turkey and dressing and “all the fixin’s.” Get-togethers with family and friends. Football games on TV. Annual Christmas parades. 

These holiday traditions have certainly become integral to our annual fourth Thursday of November celebration, but the primary reason for the observance remains to give thanks to God for all He has done for us.

We could have a spirited debate about how the American observance of Thanksgiving Day originated. When I was in school, we talked about the first thanksgiving shared by the Pilgrims and the Indians. (Native Americans, as we know them now.) And there’s solid historical evidence of a harvest feast the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared in 1621. Some historians, however, point to an earlier event, a thanksgiving service held by Spanish settlers in 1565 in what is now known as St. Augustine, Florida.

 

It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving holiday, an effort to unite the country during the Civil War. The tradition of observing Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of each November was fixed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress in 1941. But how the day got started might be a moot point – the important thing is that we still celebrate it. I fondly recall the first phrase of the “Doxology,” still sung in many churches today: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow….” 

 

Not everyone, of course, bows before the God of the Bible when they give thanks. I think of the s scene from the movie “Talladega Nights” in which the main character, race car driver Ricky Bobby, scans the table covered with food mainly from fast-food restaurants and proceeds to “say grace” over the food. 

 

He prays to “Dear Lord Baby Jesus,” expressing thanks for the “bountiful harvest of Domino’s, KFC and always delicious Taco Bell.” He chooses to pray in that manner, he later explains, because “I like the Christmas Jesus best.” A foolish scene no doubt, but it captures the confusion in many households when deciding to whom to be thankful. It also underscores the reality that many of us choose to worship and be thankful to the God we want rather than the God who is.

 

In our pluralistic society, the mention of God prompts myriad images. Expressions of thanks might be more ritualistic than heartfelt. Yet on the day that marks the official start of the Christmas season, it remains a wonderful thing that through the centuries, men, women and children have endeavored to acknowledge and thank the Creator God who truly is the source of all things.

 

Recently I heard an interesting distinction between gratitude and thanksgiving. Gratitude is a feeling – being grateful for something. Thanksgiving is an action – the conscious giving of thanks to whomever we feel gratitude. I can feel grateful, for instance, to my wife for an act of kindness, but if I don’t express my thankfulness for what she’s done, I might seem ungrateful or that I’m taking her for granted. 

 

The Scriptures abound with declarations of thanksgiving to the Lord, the One from whom, as the words from the Doxology assert, “all blessings flow.” One of the first Bible verses I memorized was “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Another translation says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

This puts a different perspective on the importance and role of thanksgiving. It’s easy to feel grateful or thankful when things are going well; it’s not as simple in times of trial and adversity. How can we be thankful for that chronic pain, the empty checkbook, the cherished relationship that’s been seriously damaged?

 

I always think back to my friend Albert, whose lifetime has served him and his family with more challenges than many of us can imagine. Despite that, he’s one of the most cheerful, encouraging followers of Jesus I’ve ever encountered. He even wrote a testimonial booklet called “Saying ‘Thank You’ When You Don’t Feel Thankful.” Albert could be the spokesperson for “giving thanks in all circumstances.”

 

When King David brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem after a resounding victory over the Philistines, he declared these words: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” (1 Chronicles 16:8-10). 

 

This psalm of praise, which echoes many other psalms the shepherd-king wrote, captures the attitude the Lord wants us to have on this Thanksgiving Day. We might have been blessed in so many positive ways that we've lost track of them all. Or we might be dealing with unrelenting hardships, making it difficult to feel thankful. Or we might have a mixture of both. 

 

Regardless of what’s going on in our lives right now, we’re called to exercise our faith, as the apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:20, by “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I wish you a greatly blessed Thanksgiving – in the Lord!

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!

What In the World Are You Thankful for?

Since Thanksgiving Day falls on a Thursday (as always), I’m posting this a day early. You’ll have a lot of better things to do that holiday than ponder my random thoughts. But I didn’t want to ignore Thanksgiving Day, since most of us have so much for which to be thankful. Perhaps more than we realize.

Recently I viewed a very unusual Thanksgiving song on YouTube with the title, “I Am Thankful.” It’s sung by a group of young children, sweet little songbirds holding signs citing things for which they’re thankful. If you have ever thought, ‘I don’t have much to be thankful for,’ you need to watch this simple video.

Their list covers a wide range of things, many of which we so easily take for granted: Dancing. Singing. Grandparents. Vacations. Nature. Seasons. Animals. Food. Art. Jesus. Rain. Sunshine. Pets. Family. School. Prayer. Godly parents. Books. Music. Freedom.

 

Many other things could have been included in this song, but you get the idea.

 

Most mornings when I awaken the first thought that comes to my mind is, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow, or next week, so we can and should be thankful for each new day.

 

Are you employed? You can be thankful for that, because many are actively searching for employment. Even if it’s not your ideal job, you don’t like the hours you have to work, or have an unreasonable boss, at least you can pay bills and put food on the table. And it’s not a life sentence. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” This time next year you might find yourself in a totally different situation, but God has you where you are for a reason.

 

Perhaps you’re going through a dark time in your life, facing challenges of one kind or another. How are we supposed to be thankful then? If we believe God is sovereign (ultimately in control) and that He desires the best for each of us, then we can give thanks despite adverse circumstances. James 1:2-4 exhorts us to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

 

Difficult times may test our patience, perseverance – and our faith – but God allows them in our lives to accomplish His purposes in our lives, even if it’s not clear what those might be. Many of us are familiar with Romans 8:28 which declares, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

 

If you’re not going through difficult circumstances, you can be thankful for that. Because in this fallen, broken world, we know hardships and adversity will find us eventually, often when we least expect them. We have the promise of Ephesians 1:3 which states, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” I can’t say that I fully comprehend all that entails, but being “blessed…with every spiritual blessing in Christ” sounds like a great place to be.

 

I wish you and your family a truly blessed Thanksgiving Day, perhaps beyond your greatest expectations. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20).

Thankful for the Opportunity to Be Thankful

This being Thanksgiving Day, if you’ve surfaced long enough from eating turkey, watching holiday parades, or enjoying a traditional football game on TV long enough to read this, let me say I’m thankful for that. And I hope that you, like me, can identify much for which to give thanks. 

We typically voice our thankfulness for things like family, health, a home, a means for earning a livelihood, material possessions, and whatever makes us feel happy. If you or someone in your family has suffered from a serious illness or disease, you know the simple gift of another day is more than enough cause for thankfulness. 

 

The important question is, to whom are we thankful? The universe or the cosmos? Lady Luck? Our own determined efforts, or the kindness of others? We certainly are entitled to feel pleased with the fruits of our labors? Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today without the help and encouragement of key individuals in our lives. But isn’t this the time to, as the old hymn states, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow?”

 

Since you have many better things to do this day than just reading through the meanderings of a pensive blogger/columnist, let me simply cite a couple of passages from the Scriptures that remind us of where our greatest thankfulness should focus.

 

The first is Psalm 100, which in just five verses can point our expressions of thanksgiving in the right direction:

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5).

 

Other fitting passages to consider for our Thanksgiving Day musings are found in Psalm 107. It starts with these words: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this – those He has redeemed from the hand of the foe, those He gathered from the lands, from east to west, from north and south” (Psalm 107:1-3).

 

After recounting some of God’s acts of mercy and provision for the Israelites, the psalmist continues, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy” (Psalm 107:21-22).

While we are pausing to reflect on and give thanks for our blessings – loved ones, our “stuff,” and another day of life as another year winds to a close – it would be wise to also offer thanks to God whom Revelation 4:8 describes as, “the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Happy Thanksgiving! 

How Can We Thank Him? Let Us Count the Ways

Do you remember the classic poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that starts, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…”? She proceeds to cite many and varied ways in which she indeed loves the object of her devotion. On this Thanksgiving Day, perhaps it would be useful to pause a few moments from the day’s festivities to think about God and ask, “How do I thank Thee?”

 

You certainly can compile a list of your own and I’d encourage you to do so. But maybe it would help to offer some “candidates” for our thanks to get us started:

• Every morning when we awaken, we have received the gift of another day, with many opportunities and possibilities. That’s no small blessing.
• If we have a roof over our head, some clothes in the closet and food on the table, we can be thankful for God’s provision.
• Looking into the garage or the driveway in front of our house, do we see a vehicle ready to take us wherever we need to go? Reliable transportation is another blessing we shouldn’t take for granted.
• Looking around us, we might see beloved family members and friends, treasured relationships we have been given and enabled to nurture and deepen over time.
• Whenever we turn on the TV to watch a holiday parade or football game, go to our computer to catch up on email or go to a favorite website, or receive a friendly text, we can give thanks for advancements in technology that our grandparents could never have imagined.
• If we were able to attend a Thanksgiving service or plan to attend a worship service this weekend, we can be thankful for the freedom to worship as we choose, a freedom not available to many people around the globe.

 

This list could go on and on. In his second letter to the ancient church in Corinth, the apostle Paul writes about thanksgiving from a perspective many of us would not have considered – being able to give materially to benefit others. 

 

After citing a key principle of sowing and reaping, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously,” and observing that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), the apostle moves on to the subject of how we can inspire the giving of thanks:

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-12).

 

Have you ever thought about giving thanks for the ability to give from our personal treasure and resources, as well as of our time and talents? As a friend told me years ago, “the greatest poverty is the inability to give.” Although there are always things we can want, many of us already have more than we need. What a blessing and a privilege to be rich enough to give from our abundance to assist those in meeting their needs.

 

Sometimes we’re reluctant to give with generosity, thinking we must keep in mind our own needs. At such times it might be wise to remember how extravagantly God has given to us, most notably the reminder we find in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” 

It is no wonder that as Paul completed his exhortation to the Corinthians about bountiful, even hilarious giving, he concluded with this declaration: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). As the old hymn says of Jesus Christ, “He gave His life, what more could He give?” This Thanksgiving, let’s consider how many ways we can thank Him for what He has done for us.

Never Too Early to Start Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving Day is coming, ready or not! Recently deceased turkeys are waiting in refrigerators across the land, while some live turkeys are wiping their brows, hoping they might have gotten a reprieve for another year. Pumpkin pies are baking; cans of yams being snatched off grocery store shelves before supplies run out; Christmas parade floats nearing completion; and football fans already making their own game plans for coordinating festive dinners with their favorite gridiron clashes. 

 

Some people are even thinking seriously about what they will be thankful for this year.

 

Although the annual holiday doesn’t officially arrive until later this week, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel or express gratitude before we gather with friends and family around a table, salivating over the eagerly anticipated feast. It’s always a good time to think about – and practice – the act of being thankful.

In fact, we’re urged to maintain a continual attitude of thankfulness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we find one of Bible’s direct, yet profound verses: “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I like how another translation turns the phrase: “in everything give thanks.”

 

Now some of us might argue, in one respect or another, that it’s hard to be thankful for everything. Perhaps you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one over the past year or experienced serious financial setbacks. Maybe your own health has been a struggle. It could be challenges encountered on the job, or family issues that seem beyond resolution. Are we supposed to be thankful for those things, too?

 

We can find no better example than Job in the Bible’s Old Testament. A wealthy and prominent citizen, he suffered an incredible series of personal tragedies, including the loss of property and livestock, deaths of his children, and severe health maladies. His wife, understandably chagrined by the chain of events, didn’t think her husband should feel thankful. Obviously lacking the spiritual gifts of mercy or encouragement, she didn’t mince words: “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

 

Job’s response, despite grave adversity that seemed unending and beyond explanation, was amazingly simple and humble: “…Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:9-10). Good question!

 

Hopefully, as you read this many positive blessings come to your mind. Despite the continuing flood of negative news, perhaps the past year has been one of your very best. If so, that’s wonderful. However, even in times of hardship, thankfulness is not only possible – it’s also essential. 

 

For one thing, we have the promise of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” When facing difficulties, we might not always understand the “why” of what’s happened, but we can trust in the Lord’s goodness, love and sovereignty. He wants what’s best for us, even if it doesn’t seem that way at the time. 

 

As we read in Jeremiah 29:11, God declares, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And as a Babbie Mason song reminds us, “When you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand…trust His heart.”

 

Even though thanksgiving should be an ongoing habit year-round, I appreciate having an annual reminder built into our calendar. Besides the United States, thanksgiving holidays are observed in countries such as Brazil, Canada, Grenada, St. Lucia, Liberia and the Philippines; similar festival holidays are held in Germany, Japan and other nations.

 

Colossians 3:15-17 gives us a good description of what it might look like to cultivate and express our thankfulness, not only to God directly but also with one another:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

This year, I hope we can all join in thanksgiving, not only around the dinner table as we pray, but also with uplifting words and songs, expressing gratitude to our Creator and Sustainer, our Savior and Lord, for who He is and all that He does in our lives, even in ways we do not understand. 

Will This Be a Thankfulness-Challenged Thanksgiving Day?

So, what are you most thankful for in 2020, this epic year of the novel coronavirus, aka COVID? Finding it difficult to think of something, perhaps?

 

Aren’t you thankful that for most of this year, whenever you have emerged from the relative security and safety of your home, you had to wear a facemask? Just think of the limitless opportunities for making a facial fashion statement for family, friends, and complete strangers!

 

Millions of parents discovered the delights of virtual learning as their children exchanged classrooms for the family computer. What about the daily challenges of having to juggle schedules and figuring out who would watch the kids when mom or dad had to leave the house? For those who always wondered what it would be like to work from home, now they know. That’s something to be thankful for, right?

Sports fans have had the opportunity to learn new worries, not only whether their teams would win the big game, but also the suspense of whether the big game would even be played at all – or if it would fall victim to COVID. Given thanks for that yet?

 

And what about not having to worry about having to get up Sunday mornings to go to church, because for much of the year that wasn’t a possibility? We found out that online services – even the most high-tech and sophisticated – are a poor substitute for in-person, side-by-side worship. So can we give thanks for that?

 

Okay. All sarcasm aside, it’s been one tough, disruptive year. Life we’d grown accustomed to turned upside-down. Even worse, we’re wondering if it will ever be turned right-side-up again. Many have suffered personal loss, whether it involved loved ones, jobs, financial hardships, or health setbacks. So, with those things in mind, how can we be properly thankful with Thanksgiving Day fast approaching?

 

The Bible gives us the answer. Thankfulness – and thanksgiving – aren’t to be dictated by feelings or our current mood. They’re determined commitments, conscious decisions possible only as we focus on the limitless love and goodness of God. 

 

Being thankful, believers are told, isn’t conditional; it’s not a choice. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we’re told, “give thanks in all circumstances [in everything give thanks] for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It doesn’t say, “unless…” or, “except when….” All means ALL. Everything mean EVERYTHING.

 

Psalm 50:14 tells us both what we’re to do, and why we’re to do it: “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Another translation says, “Sacrifice thank offerings to God…” with the same assurance, “I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” After a year as fraught will challenges and difficulties as this one, that’s one great promise.

 

It's at times like these that we need to cling to Romans 8:28, not as a handy cliché, but with total confidence: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We may not know why things happen – or how the Lord will use them to accomplish His divine purposes – but that’s the assurance we have from His Word. 

 

Because of that, there’s another passage concerning thanksgiving that we can embrace without reservation: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Then we’re told, if we do this, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

 

There’s no denying that 2020 has been a year to forget in many respects. If for some reason living through a pandemic was on your bucket list, you can definitely check that one off. Nevertheless, we trust in a God who has taken us through tough times before and is more than capable of doing it again. 

For that reason, we can approach this Thanksgiving Day with genuine thankfulness, knowing that one day and in some way, He will have worked through it all “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Happy Thanksgiving!

Who Are You Thankful For?

OK, grammar rules would dictate the title of this post should be, “For whom are you thankful?” But if the worst thing I do today is finish off a sentence with a preposition, it’s a pretty decent day. Since this is being posted on Thanksgiving Day, most folks will have better things to do than to read other people’s blogs (at least I hope so!) So, it seemed good to write something applicable for other days as well.

While we’re feeling thankful for various blessings in our lives, like a warm and safe place to live, food and clothing – right at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, along with loved ones, a job and means for getting to that job, there are other things for which to give thanks. Perhaps it’s not just “what” to be thankful for, but also “who” (or whom, for grammatical sticklers).

Who are those folks that have had the greatest impact on your life? Those who’ve had a hand in shaping the person you are today?

Starting off, I obviously would cite my parents, my wife, children and grandchildren. But they’re just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Teachers have had important roles in my life: my fourth-grade teacher who instilled in me a vision for attending college; my freshman English instructor in college who encouraged me to write; and my first journalism prof as I began learning the craft of news writing. My uncle Joe, who lovingly kicked my tail when I was a spoiled teenager and taught me about hard work and perseverance.

A number of pastors have influenced me in various ways. Some showed that clergymen are normal, approachable human beings. Others taught how to deep-dive into the Scriptures, not only for intellectual understanding but also for practical truths and principles to survive this marathon called everyday life.

Vocationally, I’ve appreciated bosses who gave me opportunities, recognized the potential in me (one even called me “a diamond in the rough”), challenged me to fulfill it, and demonstrated what leadership should look like. I’m also thankful for many of my coworkers whose passion mirrored mine and whose skills complemented my own. Together we demonstrated the truth of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Often, working together on projects, we saw the reality of the adage, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

Although I never had one specific mentor, numerous men have had profound impacts of my life, not only in teaching me biblical truth and showing how it relates to real life, but also demonstrating what it looks like to live out one’s faith in a genuine, consistent manner.

Thankfulness, as we would expect, can be found throughout the Scriptures. One example is how much relationships meant for the apostle Paul. Many times, in his letters to both individuals and groups of believers, he expressed how thankful he was for them. To the church in Philippi he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5).

Paul expressed the same sentiments to believers in the Greek city of Thessalonica, writing, “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

To Timothy, one of the men whom he had discipled during his travels, Paul wrote, “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (2 Timothy 1:3). How encouraging those words must have been to that young pastor as he sought to serve and minister to those God had brought into his life.

I wonder, whether it’s on Thanksgiving Day or any other day of the year, who are you thankful for? Do they know how they have meant to you? If not, don’t you think it would be a good idea to let them know?