Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

            The Sunday before Thanksgiving has always been the point at which I begin to get excited about the holidays!  The air is usually crisp and cool, the leaves are falling, and everyone begins preparing for Christmas.  Brother Lassiter would bring a Thanksgiving sermon and remind us all that Christians have special cause for celebrating.  At school, we had just three days and one of those usually spent feasting and having fun – no classes on Wednesday!  I recall getting up early on Thanksgiving morning and turning on the TV to watch the parades.  Dad always had someone else milk for us so that we could spend more time as a family.  We would load into the car and go to one grandparent’s house for lunch and the other for supper.  At both places we saw my uncles, aunts, and all my cousins.  It was a wonderful time.

            As I’ve grown older the experience has changed.  I still feel the same old excitement but I see things from a different perspective now.  Now it’s my house where everyone is gathering and it is my responsibility to see that we keep Thanksgiving as it should be kept! 

I.                   People Are Not Thankful By Nature

A.    Thankfulness does not come naturally

1.      It must be taught by parents and by circumstances

2.      There must be a proper understanding of the order of things

B.     Selfishness seems the credo today

1.      Giving no credit for our blessings to anyone but ourselves

2.      Always desiring more and giving less

II.                How To Have A Thankful Heart

A.    Recognize where all life’s blessing originate

1.      In the loving heart of God!

2.      James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above

B.     Dr. Curtis Hutson and his carpet

1.      Grew up in homes with dirt floors

2.      Would lie on the carpet and thank God for every loop of the shag rug!

C.    True thankfulness can only come from a grateful heart

 III.             For What Should We Be Thankful?

A.  Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all

things….”

1.      It is easy to give thanks for what we perceive as good things

2.      Hard times are much more difficult

B.     This is only possible if we couple the all things of Eph. 5:20 with the all things of Romans 8:28

            For what are you thankful?  I am thankful for my salvation, for a loving Christian wife, for children and grandchildren that show respect, and for a loving church.  I am even thankful for my health – though not great I am still up and going.  I am thankful that my immediate family is prospering and that no one has suffered injury or death.  I am thankful for all things!