Today you will hopefully be gathered around a table with many of your family members gazing deliciously at a big turkey or ham. Afterwards, the kids will go out to play, the women will begin cleaning up the kitchen, and the men will gather around the TV to watch a little football. But where in the process will you stop to give thanks?
“Thanks” is defined as “an acknowledgement of favor, gift, or benevolence,” “an expression of gratitude” (Webster’s College Dictionary). The “Giving” part of ThanksGIVING involved some words or deeds acknowledging God’s blessings upon us. Did you praise God and count your blessings before you sliced the turkey?
King David declared, “With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him” (Psm. 110:30). This year be sure to put the “giving of thanks” back in Thanksgiving. Before everyone is seated around the table, before the ham and pumpkin pie are sliced, “in the midst of many” give praise to God! Wherever you are this Thanksgiving Day, look around the room and verbally give thanks to God for what you see, a life filled with His blessings. Without doing so, it will just be another meal.
-Dennis Doughty, editor
