Thanksgiving is the gateway into Christmas. How do I know this? Well I’m sitting in Starbucks on Thanksgiving morning listening to “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” Frank Sinatra style, while red cups decorated with the marks of the holiday are scattered around the shop, but I haven’t heard one song about turkeys, or seen any pilgrim hats decorating the counters. I think people needed a date they could start decorating their houses with fake Christmas trees, Santa Claus heads and manger scenes, and at the same time gorge themselves with obscure, yet glorious combinations of food! Cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes! This is the only rational explanation. Indians helping out pilgrims learn how to plant corn can’t be that significant. I’m sure there are more significant events in history to celebrate than those of Thanksgiving, but I love it anyways and wouldn’t trade it for anything…except Christmas. So as long as there is food, I will gladly celebrate.
As the name implies, I got out of bed early this morning to take advantage of today by reflecting on all I am thankful for. I realize everyday should be marked by unceasing thanksgiving to God from whom every good and perfect gift comes, but I need improvement, and hopefully today will be good practice to bring about a habit of joyfully shouting out thanks to my Father out of the overflow of the truth of what he has done for me. When I think about it, I am only thankful for one thing, or really I can only look at the blessings in my life through the lens of one source, and that source is of course God. I am thankful for God. I am thankful for who God is. The triune God, perfect in power and knowledge. Perfect in love. Out of this perfect love, he created me, and out of his perfect love he died for me. For this I thank him for he has…
Taken me, his once great enemy, and died for my offense.
Snatched me from death, absolute nothingness…bereavement of every kind…absence of the only thing worth existing for, and brought me to Himself, where life has its beginning.
Reached down into the pit to pull me out, clean me off, and carry me in his arms.
Given me the privilege of being buried with him in death, and being raised with him to new life.
Rescued me that I may grow in love with him for a short time here on earth, and for eternity face to face.
Taken a slave to death and Satan, and made me a slave to righteousness.
Always heard my prayer, regardless of how I judge his response.
Countless times reminded me of my spotlessness and his UNCHANGING love when I turn my back to him in sin.
Loved me right now as I write this as much as he always has and as much as he always will. Perfectly!
Given me a mother and father I don’t deserve.
Given me sister who teaches my tough heart to laugh until I cry over the simple things of life.
Given me a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Given me friend who teaches me by action that obedience to God is more important than my life.
Shown me himself through colors racing around a setting sun.
Wringed my soul when I look at the expanse of stars that scream to the eternity inside me.
Created me for more than my years on earth, but instead, for eternity.
Carried me in his arms as a Father carries his little boy, with a love he could never understand.
God eternal, who can explain? My greatest effort to think of you is like straining with the extent of my mind to understand a singular grain of sand, while I stand on an expanse of a beach stretching out over the horizon. To you Yahweh, I give my thanks and my life. Take my worthless heart and bring it into the holy of holies as a sacrifice to you, the worthy King.
