Thanks

Now that we’ve had our dog a couple of years, I look forward to cooler weather myself because it means I can take her out for walks and runs without having to take a shower immediately afterwards! I’ve always liked cooler weather, watching the leaves fall (although I could do without raking them!), and hoping for snow to come some time during winter. As I’ve gotten older, my definition of cool weather has gone up, but I still get excited for snow – unless it snows on a Saturday and I have to decide whether we need to call for snow removal or cancel worship. My point isn’t that you should love fall and winter – it’s that there are always things for which we can be thankful.

Thanksgiving gets a short shift these days. In truth, it has never been a major holiday (holy day) highlight, but it seems that everyone goes straight from Halloween plans into Christmas plans. If I ever gained a magic wand, one of the things I would want to do is to have more Thanksgivings in the year. We don’t need to have turkey or talk about pilgrims, but Thanksgiving does everyone good. Specifically, the act of giving thanks does everyone good.

Giving thanks does many good things for us. It takes our attention away from all our problems for a bit. The more we give thanks, the more we have to give thanks for – it seems like once we begin, it becomes easier, then it becomes more fun, and eventually, we (or at least I) begin to wonder why God has been so good to us. There are many examples of giving thanks in the scriptures, but the Psalms capture it so clearly. Psalm 23, for instance, is an extended meditation on how God shepherds us, and if we take a moment to consider how God shepherds and cares for us today, it is also an extended prayer of thanksgiving. Psalm 8 is a beautiful scene of God’s care, glory, and compassion. Psalm 46 reminds me that even when it appears things are falling apart, I can still trust in God’s goodness.

Allow me to suggest two things for you this season – take them, adapt them, or do your own thing. But here are two thoughts I want to suggest. The first thought is – if you know of someone who will be having Thanksgiving alone, consider bringing them to your home or going with them somewhere else. It doesn’t have to be on Thanksgiving Day, but it could be any day. Second, whenever and wherever you gather around for Thanksgiving, feel free to pray or do anything that is a tradition for you, but include one of the Psalms before the meal. I’d especially suggest Psalm 8, 23, or 46, but you may have your own favorite Psalm. One of the traditions my family had was that everyone was supposed to say what they were thankful for before the meal – reading a Psalm may just get the juices, and the gratitude, flowing!

As for our congregation – I am thankful for you! Yes, our finances are a bit of a struggle, and our attendance has gone down some, but we support each other, encourage each other, build up each other, and together serve the community. I am grateful to be called your pastor.