by Linda Veath
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Well, it’s the same ol’, same ol’. The Holiday Creep has started. Christmas items began appearing in stores anywhere from July to September, and Halloween things were displayed somewhere in between. You can’t miss them. But you have to search for Thanksgiving in the stores. Oh, it’s there, along with fall, quietly stuffed into a small area between costumes and pre-lit trees.
I for one would like to see Thanksgiving revolt, moved to the front of the store, as a reminder that we have many reasons to be thankful. (And that includes being thankful for Halloween candy and Christmas decorations.)
I’m not sure if many stores would implement my suggestion. But, we could—that’s right—we could put Thanksgiving at the forefront of our homes. And one way to do that is to identify something we are thankful for each day in November.
When we count our blessings on a daily basis, it helps us see more clearly what God has done for us. It helps those doubts and fears we have to fly away. We’re reminded of the greatest blessing of all—our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
And, while we’re at it, why not have a little fun, too? Why not count your blessings this year like we’d count down the items in The Twelve Days of Christmas? It would be quite a list of blessings. And quite a song of thanksgiving.
So, start making your list and singing that song: On the first day of Thanksgiving, my true LORD gave to me ……..