On Thanksgiving

By Peggy Rice

A Norman Rockwell painting (Freedom From Want, 1943) shows a Thanksgiving feast, with the whole family gathered around the edges, and a large cooked turkey being placed at the head of the table. While this may be the picture that lots of folks have in their heads of what the holiday should look like, the reality of it is often far from true. For many, there is not freedom from want. There is not a large crowd of family. There is not abundance of food. There is not joy and laughter.

For many, holidays – like Thanksgiving – are especially painful times. Perhaps they remind folks of loss from this last year – loss of a loved one, a job, of friends because of a move across the country. Maybe the year brought new things – a mental health diagnosis, a physical ailment, an estrangement, an unwanted challenge.

Not everything looks like the picture.

But God.

But God is not surprised by our current circumstances, our losses or our “gains.” He does not leave us when our situation turns ugly, or undesirable. In fact, He draws closer: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Ps. 34:18, NLT.

God calls for us to be thankful. “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thess 5:18, ESV. He knows that it’s good for us to look around our lives to find things to thank Him for, as this will help change our perspective, from focus on ourselves to focus on Him.

So how do we do that? Look up from ourselves and look to God? When we’re lonely. Or sad. Or hurting. Or sick. Or scared. Or worried. How in the world do we overcome the inertia? How do we pull our gaze heavenward?

I would say … start by looking around.

When my kids were young, part of the bedtime routine was saying prayers together. I remember one night, sitting on the side of my son’s bed, as he began.

“Dear Jesus. Thank You for … my … ball. Thank You for … my … lamp. Thank You for … my … juice.” And during the “ … ” he was looking around the room. There was a long pause between “for,” “my,” and whatever he would say, as he looked all over to see the things around him. To see his blessings – the things he had that made his room feel safe and cozy, and when he spied them, he thanked God for them!

We can do the same thing. Maybe we can’t find anything in our circumstances that makes us grateful. But we can look around the room and thank God for what we can see. The pretty couch. The cat who snuggles. The sun shining outside.

Or maybe we listen, and thank God for what we hear. The laughter of the neighbor kids as they kick the ball down the sidewalk. The bird chirping in the tree. The gentle rain on the roof.

What about what we can smell or taste? The coffee brewing. The chocolate candy.

And touch? Is the blanket soft? Is the chair back supportive?

Using all of your senses, identify some things around you – right now – that you can thank God for. This will do three things:

1. It will ground you in the present moment, which fights against anxiety and depression.

2. It will change your negative thoughts to positive ones, even if just for a few seconds.

3. It will bring God into focus, as the Giver of Good Gifts.

I challenge you to do this regularly, daily. Maybe even more often than that! Notice what’s around you, and remember that God is the one who provides, so we can give Him thanks.

A further challenge – write it down! Take a small notebook – doesn’t have to be anything fancy, unless you want it to be – and turn it into a Gratitude Journal, where you record these gifts from God. Then make a habit of going back and glancing through it. The review will remind you of God’s faithfulness to you.

God tells us in His word to remember Him. He gave the Israelites Feasts and routines and markers to help them remember His care for them, His provision, His saving. We can do the same, by observing His gifts to us, and giving Him thanks and praise.

“Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30, NLT

Peggy has been involved with Fresh Hope as a Group Facilitator for 5 years and as the Hope Coach trainer for 3. You can reach her at peggy@freshhope.us