THANKSGIVING 1
Php. 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Thanksgiving: ευχαριστία eucharistia
Thayer Definition:
1) thankfulness
2) the giving of thanks
The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon
Word Origin eucaristia from (2170)
NAS Word Usage - Total: 15
giving of thanks 3, gratefully* 1, gratitude 2, thankfulness 1, thanks 2, thanksgiving 4, thanksgivings 2
NAS Verse Count (15)
Acts 1; 1 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 3; Ephesians 1; Philippians 1; Colossians 2; 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 Timothy 3; Revelation 2
Many of us associate the word with the Lord’s Supper, a time of intense remembrance and thanksgiving.
Maybe, although it is a made-up special day, we ought to make better use for it than just being grateful for good stuff. Maybe we ought to look deeper into what we really should be thankful for and who we should be thankful too.
It’s one of the weird ironies to me that on this day great numbers of people will gather together and express thanks – but thanks for what and thanks to whom? What will most people be thankful for? Stuff? Health? Family? Friends? Who or what will most people thank? Fate? Chance? Others? Themselves?
Isn’t it commonly a day of being thankful for whatever to whom/whatever?
You and I however have a very specific what and a very specific who. We need to start with the right priority.
WHAT: Eph. 2
WHO: Eph. 2:4
This is where we have to start and really, where we have to remain.
Until we are able to accept and appreciate the discrepancy between what we want and what we need being thankful will be difficult. Now, don’t go beating up on yourself. I said “we” and I mean “WE.”
Our GOAL is clear:
1Jn. 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Our REASON is clear:
(16) For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. (17) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Now this does not call us to live out in the boonies and become Luddite hermits. We are called to NOT LOVE the world and its stuff. We are not to ἀγαπάω agapaō the world. We are not to be devoted, consumed, entranced, distracted, disturbed or deterred by the world or the things of the world. YES, easier said than done – but none-the-less, in Him, it is doable.
So what’s the point?
I am convicted (and am sharing it with you) that I need to be careful of what I am thankful for and be very clear on who I am thankful to. What I mean is that all my thanksgiving should be in the light of His sovereignty and His call/command upon my life.
This “season” brings greater meaning to Shakespeare’s comment, “all the world’s a stage.” If you don’t believe it just be a little “bah hum-bug.” It is this time of the year when we are all expected to act like everything is fine and good and hunky-dory. But we know it’s not!
I hate this time of year. One of the greatest things, to me, about growing up and getting out was I was now in control of this time of the year. No longer did I have to pretend everything was good and everyone was lovable and make “nice.” No longer did I have to be with others who one moment gave thanks for each other and the next moment ripped each other apart. No longer did I have to “do my time,” at the gatherings and celebrations.
But – BUT – I love this time of the year. I can, in my seasonal yucks and blahhhs really look at my life and count the blessings of being His. This is a season of reviewing the good, the bad and the ugly in the light of His truth. Culling out what is not important, refining the product of my life, this is an opportunity to skim off the dross, the impurities. It is a real opportunity to “count my blessings,” even the “left-handed ones.
Please, dear ones, don’t get sucked up into the “spirit” of the season. That “spirit” has horns and a pointed tail. Rather rely upon the Spirit and the Word and upon your family in Christ. Focus on Him and His provision. Be thankful for everything BUT only within the context of His sovereignty and grace.
It is time to begin working on living out the fact that we are “IN” the world but not “OF” it by allowing God to refine our hearts and minds so we can see how thankful we can be. Yes, we may need to say NO to the world’s seasonal traditions – even the church’s seasonal traditions in order to get off the stage. Maybe we need to take a break from the “expected” or the “obligatory” attendance at traditional gatherings. Maybe we need to just make the upcoming season special days – just days, without all the unreasonable expectations they have developed.
A lot of people do not understand the toxicity this season holds for many of us. And ya know, that’s OK! They don’t need to understand it but they do need to respect it and perhaps quit trying to fix it.
The attempt by many to “cheer us up,” reminds me so powerfully of being a small child and being injured, hurt or frightened and being told, “Don’t cry, it’s all right.” Well, as I remember it, it wasn’t all right and crying seemed very appropriate.
Please – please – please !!!!!! If you know someone for whom this season is difficult DO NOT use the following phrases or any derivative of them:
Cheer up.
Don’t be sad.
Don’t be depressed (as if one had a choice).
Don’t cry.
It’s all right.
Be happy.
Don’t be a Scrooge.
Snap out of it.
Ad – infinitum
Personally I’d prefer you just drive a nail through my head than say any of these things. They DO NOT help, they hurt.
Make this time a safe time for us. If we cry – let us. If we’re grumpy – love us. If we’re depressed – respect us. Please, give us something very special to be grateful you – your unconditional acceptance, appreciation, respect and love – as we struggle through. Let us be us – and love us. That’s what He does – act like Him – we’ll be thankful to and for you both.
Michael, Sr. Sheepdog
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