Thanksgiving is an action word. Thankfulness and gratitude are attitudes; but Thanksgiving requires doing something. The Pilgrims didn’t just feel gratitude to the helpful Indians. They had them over for lunch.
God knows. I understand that Thanksgiving is about thanking God. Consider that God alone doesn’t need us to take action in thanksgiving. He, like no other, knows our thoughts and appreciates our thankfulness unspoken.
We need Thanksgiving. So why all the Thanksgiving? Because we need it. We need to express our thankfulness, because we forget the many reasons we have to be thankful. Like a child at Christmas, we need to make a list and check it twice. Saying it out loud makes it real. There is something confirming about hearing ourselves speak truth.
Others need to know. I believe there is even a greater reason for acts of Thanksgiving. We are surrounded by people that need to know that we are thankful for them. We stupidly persist in our belief that the ones we love and appreciate know all about our love and appreciation. We think they have the uncanny power to know what is never expressed or at least too rarely expressed. People need to know that we thank God for them. Make this an action Thanksgiving. Kiss the cook. Hug the kids. Smile at everyone. Especially, in their presence, thank the Lord who gifted you with their lives, for each of them by name.
You need to say it. They need to hear it.
Have an action Thanksgiving and bless and be blessed. It will make God smile.
Nick
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