Editorial—Thanksgiving

America recently celebrated THANKSGIVING Day, a national holiday when family and friends get together to give THANKS to God for all the blessings received throughout the previous year. Celebrating THANKSGIVING is an occasion to express gratitude to God for what He had done for us. We also express our THANKS and appreciation to those who have helped us and made a difference in our lives.

There are many things for which we should be THANKFUL. It’s always easy when we give our THANKS to God for the positive things we’ve received from Him, the things that make us happy. But what about things that don’t appear to be positive, such as being laid off work and are now out of a job. Are you THANKFUL to God for being jobless? How about if you don’t have an income to manage your expenses? Are you THANKFUL to God for being broke? How about if you get sick; are you THANKFUL to God for the illness?

Perhaps for some of you this was a year marked by pain, something like what happened to me. A few years ago, I became serious ill and experienced some tough times as a result. So, the question is, should I have been THANKFUL to God for those circumstances? The answer, of course, is that it’s hard to be THANKFUL to God while dealing with an illness. How could I say, “THANK You, Lord” for the sickness that hit me?” I expect that many of you understand this reaction. But as Christians, the reason we give THANKS to God is not based on our circumstances, but something far more significant and better.

The apostle Paul told the people of Thessalonica to “Give THANKS in everything.” Why? Because this is the will of God in Christ: “Give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18, NIV). This admonition is also true for us today. It’s very clear that we must give THANKS in all circumstances, although not for all circumstances. In other words, we give THANKS to God, not for the sickness, but in our illness. Giving THANKS to God is the attitude God expects from us.

Edward Spencer was a student at Northwestern University, just north of Chicago, when he heard on the news that a boat filled with partygoers had capsized in a storm in Lake Michigan, a few blocks from the university. Spencer quickly pulled on some clothes and rushed out into the frigid lake water to help pull survivors from the wreckage. He personally managed to rescue 17 people. Years later, his story was being told to a large audience in California when someone stood up and said that Edward Spencer himself was in the audience. The speaker interrupted her presentation to invite Spencer to the microphone. Now, decades since the incident and with white flowing hair, Spencer promptly answered her questions, until he was asked: “What was the most memorable part of your experience when you rescued all those people?” Spencer paused before the microphone for a long time while the audience sat utterly silent. Then he replied, “Not one of the 17 ever THANKED me.” https://www.linkstothepast.com/milwaukee/marinedis.php.

When reading this story, I began to understand how both Spencer and Jesus must have felt. After healing 10 lepers, Jesus must have stood there in the road, puzzled as to why only one of the lepers returned to give THANKS. As Jesus’ followers, we believe that every piece of hardship is a grace gift from the Lord, sent for our spiritual growth and sanctification. We don't believe that we’re here on this earth all alone; instead, we believe that God is always with us because He has a purpose for our pain, a reason for our struggle, and rewards for our faithfulness. For these reasons, God deserves to receive our THANKSGIVING.

May this humble thought give us strength and courage to face life’s challenges with a heart filled with THANKSGIVING and gratitude in all circumstances during the coming year of 2020.

Hiskia Missah
Editor

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