"In Everything, Give Thanks" by Mary Beth Woolard

            Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No gifts to buy, no fuzzy bunnies or jolly old elves. Thanksgiving brings to mind tables laden with food, kids in the yard, football on TV and, most importantly friends and family gathered around. Like all of you, I have experienced happy fun-filled gatherings and holidays spent in hospitals or almost alone, but, through Christ, we can all experience a profound sense of thankfulness which only comes through Him.

          This has been a challenging year for me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January and had several surgeries before it was determined that I would have chemotherapy and radiation. I won’t say that I was overjoyed by what the coming months had in store, but I was so very thankful that the surgery was not more extensive or that I didn’t possess a gene which could be passed on to my grandchildren. I won’t say that I relished losing my hair, but I was thankful they make good-looking wigs.  I never imagined, in January, that I would be anxiously awaiting the birth of two new grandbabies! There is always a reason to be thankful.

          I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says that we are to “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So that’s what I tried to do and I want to tell you that I reaped wonderful rewards…opportunities to witness to others, opportunities for friendship I would never have had otherwise, but most of all an appreciation for the bounty I received from God. That same bounty….God’s grace and goodness is available for all of us. He is a magnanimous Father who is waiting to pour His blessings out on His children.

          So, this year at Thanksgiving, let’s cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Let’s remember all the blessings we have every single day and let’s share those blessings with our family and friends. Let’s let our cups overflow.

Prayer: “Father, we ask that You would help us keep a grateful soul. We pray that you would help us see that regardless of how difficult our day might seem that You are with us. Let that sense of gratitude wash over us so that we might share our thankfulness with others. Amen.”