The Thanks of Giving

Thanksgiving Day is soon upon us. Roast the turkey, spread the table …. hours of preparation … sit and eat … gone in less than an hour… clear away the leftovers, do the dishes and clean up the kitchen… whew, is it over? Not at all!

The time spent sharing together… talking with family members… remembering former times… laughing at just about anything… watching the grandchildren. Watch football… time to eat again… bring out the leftovers… clean up - again. Play family games… laugh some more. Try to get the kids bedded down so the adults can have some time together. These are the things that make holidays - at least at our house.

What’s it all about, this holiday? Giving thanks? Yes. It’s thinking about your blessings, the things you have received. But let me ask you to think about it from a different perspective. Why not think at this time about giving thanks for what you can give - the thanks of giving?

Each of us has been blessed in many ways. Also, each of us has something we can give to others. It may or may not be material but what matters is that we give it from the sense of being thankful for what we have and the willingness to share with others.

For example, many here took an empty grocery sack and have filled it up with items for a Thanksgiving Day dinner to share with others. You’ve done that because of what you have and now you have the thanks of giving. Many other examples of this kind of benevolent giving are shown in the Christian’s life.

Another example is our giving to God. He has given us so much for which to be thankful. We give to Him because we are thankful. We receive the blessing of being able to give to Him who has given so much to us. That is the thanks of giving.

Why not talk about this at your family gathering this holiday season. Think about the thanks (blessings we each receive) of being able to give.

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony