A Thanksgiving Lifestyle
I can look back on my life and I can see where Thanksgiving began to be a lifestyle for me. It happened because I began to see in a big way all of the goodness and blessing that was upon my life. I didn’t always see this. In fact, I felt like a good portion of my life was about trying to become blessed. It seemed I was chasing blessings, often ending up frustrated.
When I realized God’s love for me was unconditional, I couldn’t help but have a strong gratitude for that love. I began to realize that I was not lacking as much as I thought I was. Because I had God, and He was my Source for everything.
To give thanks, one has to feel that they have something to be thankful for. It’s a sense of abundance. The realization of God’s grace caused me to see what I had, rather than what I lacked. This was a big change for me. Where I once was motivated by a sense of lack, I am now motivated more by what I have.
There was a time that giving thanks was a tool that I used to try to “get” something from God, but it has now become an unforced response to the feeling of fullness that comes from knowing that God is very big in my life, that He loves me, that He cares, and that He delights in bestowing goodness toward me.
A thankful heart is truly a happy heart. It has eyes to see the wealth and goodness that were always mine, but that I didn’t always know was here. That’s why I believe that knowing God loves us and knowing that His grace is sufficient for us is so important for everyone. The good news about a wonderful God opens our heart and enables us to experience a joy and a peace that we cannot help but be thankful for.
I think our message will always be the same: God is good. God loves you. You are not alone. He cares for you very much. This makes you a wealthy soul. It is much to be thankful for.
We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving day and that you will acknowledge the good that you have had, and what you have now, and even the good you are about to receive because you are a loved child of God.