Thankful for everything?!?!?

It’s the Thanksgiving season; along with the assumption that we will eat massive amounts of turkey and dressing comes the assumption that we will unashamedly and publicly give thanks.

Thanksgiving is based on the Bible; that’s why the first Thanksgiving was established. The Pilgrims, who were steeped in Scripture wanted to make sure God was glorified for the blessings that He lavished on His people. Remember, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!” One of the ways to glorify God is to be thankful for His blessing and provision. I want to follow the example of the Pilgrims and unashamedly give thanks. I want the world to know where my dependence lies and as Ephesians 5:20 says,

“…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This verse says to give “thanks for everything…” So, here are some things, large and small, that I am extremely thankful for; not necessarily in order of priority:

Shelter, cars (with or without Air Conditioning), the Bible, dog leashes, friends, chicken, pickles, Doppler radar, microphones, greeting cards, banjos, banjo picks, raincoats, toothpicks (especially the cinnamon flavored ones) , water heaters, taste buds, God-centered theologians, trash trucks, family (especially mine), grace, math, forks, snakes that eat other snakes, fire alarms, Mop and Glo, mirrors, really loud fireworks, the letter “J” (my name would sound like someone got hurt without it), people who can really play the fiddle, encouragers, Trumpet valve oil, popcorn salt, bones, shoes, strawberry syrup at Ihop, Tilex Mold and Mildew remover, airplanes, soldiers, band directors, dedicated church members (you know who you are), waiters and waitresses, locks, nose hair trimmers, insulated underwear, mercy, boats, bookmarks, Interstate rest areas, hammocks, cameras, wisdom, doorknobs, the Gospel, harmony, deodorant, teachers, dogs, USB ports, scoreboards, fish hooks, banana peels, the Sun, ear buds, Tabasco and Texas Pete, the chain they measure first downs with, eyelids, instant replay, old hymns, people who read blogs, cups, gas powered leaf blowers, waders, WD-40, peanut oil, the reformation, windshields, rain, electricity, memory, sight, Ibuprofen, gates, mentors, septic tanks, birthdays, ABC’s 25 days of Christmas, Minimum speed limits, common sense, freedom, mailboxes, yearbooks, wheels, fire, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, faith, God’s sovereignty, sleep, sneezes, remote controls, socks that don’t droop, liberty, prayer, legal pads, religious freedom, pencil sharpeners, chain linked fences, the word “honorificabilitudinitatibus”, false teeth, missionaries, people that are thankful, and…well, you get the picture.

So, let’s join the Psalmist as he declared,

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!