The Thanksgiving Holiday is an appropriate reminder of the importance of giving thanks. Giving thanks is more important than we realize. Jesus stressed the importance of giving thanks in Luke 17 when he healed ten lepers of their disease and only one returned to thank him. Jesus said, “Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Giving thanks is a form of praise, which is why Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that they should “give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thes. 5:18).” It is not easy to follow Paul’s admonition. The following story from a book titled Stories for the Heart by Alice Gray might help give us some perspective.
“Matthew Henry is a well-known Bible commentator. One day he was robbed and that evening made the following entry in his jouranl:
Let me be thankful–first, because I was never robbed before, second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life, third, because although they took my all, it was not much, and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”
“What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” (Ps. 116:12)
Happy Thanksgiving!