This is my tribute to American Thanksgiving being celebrated this week. May we learn to make counting our blessings a daily habit. It will guarantee to make a tremendous change in how we view our circumstances and personal situations.
I did some research on the history of American Thanksgiving and it is interesting to note that it was started by the Pilgrims, English settlers who traveled to North America via a ship called Mayflower. The ship, carrying 102 passengers and 30 crew members, was at sea for 10 exhausting weeks and arrived at Massachusetts on November 21, 1620. These travelers were totally unprepared to experience the harsh winter. Only half of the Pilgrims survived through the aid of local Indigenous people who helped them gather food and taught them survival skills. If not for these Native Americans, no one may have endured that winter. The next year after the first successful fall harvest, this colony along with the Indigenous people celebrated the first thanksgiving. The Pilgrims brought with them the tradition of days of prayer thanking God for blessings. For this occasion, I imagine it to be a bittersweet celebration as they thank God for enabling them to get through and have a bountiful harvest. On the other hand, they remember family and friends who passed away. In Canada, we also celebrate thanksgiving a month earlier. It has similar history and themes as our US counterpart where it originated from giving thanks for a bountiful harvest and survival from various calamities.
In mirroring this to our own lives, there are indeed bittersweet celebrations as life is not as rosy, beautiful or glossy as we like them to be. There will always be trials, tragedies and setbacks. However, how we react, thrive and overcome these, I believe, is the reason for celebration. We thank God because we are alive and as long as we are breathing, we can rewrite our story to a better one. We can also continue to make a difference to our loved ones, our community and our environment. We thank God for our families, even with varying personalities or points of view, are there to love and support us no matter what. We thank God for our closest friends who we consider our extended families that journey with us through our ups and downs. We thank God for His daily provisions - as Christians, we view success not with big houses, flashy belongings but good health, harmonious relationships and peace of mind. We thank God for our jobs and sources of income. If you lost a job or going through financial woes, consider your family - you are all alive and together. We thank God for His continued protection and safekeeping. We thank God for our countries that appreciate its present freedom. The thanksgiving list goes on and on. It will only depend if we intentionally look at things to be grateful for. I remember the words of Job, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" This was his response when he went through insurmountable trials. May the same attitude prevail in us especially during this pandemic time. May we also divert our attention from our own troubles but actively seek to be of help to someone who needs it desperately within our sphere of influence. This is certain to move us forward as we focus our energies on what we can do and not be paralyzed by what we cannot.
I end with a practical application as shared by one of my favourite preachers - Rev. Chuck Swindoll. Every night before you go to bed, think of 3 things that you are thankful for that day. You can pray silently or journal it. As time goes on, add more and more to your list. Keep counting your blessings!
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." Psalm 28:7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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