November 22 Home Communicator – The other day, I heard someone say, “Hang on, here come the holidays!” At first I wondered what she meant, but the more I thought about it, I realized Thanksgiving, Christmas and probably even New Years was more of an endurance test for her than a celebration. My initial thought was, “How sad”, but the more I thought about it, I wondered how many others, yes Christians as well, might secretly feel the same?
It seems each year we pack so much into the special holidays that we forget what they are all about. I was reading a devotional and the author suggested that we need to remember that Thanksgiving is more than a day – it’s a lifestyle. He went on to say that being grateful is a choice that we express on Thanksgiving Day, but asked us to examine ourselves and see what we do on other days of the year, when the mood is less festive or the atmosphere more ordinary. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July or simply March 12 . . . God tells us in Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It’s true that as Christians, Thanksgiving should really be a life of thanks-living.
In an article written by Jeff Schreve titled, “The Joy of Thanks-living”, he challenges all of us to live a life of gratitude, not just on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but each of the 365 days in a year. Why?
- Thanks-living lets God know you have confidence in Him, no matter how difficult the problem.
- Living a life of gratitude radiates the joy of the Lord. It is an awesome display of witnessing for Him.
- Thanks-living opens the door for God to work. He loves it when we praise and give thanks.
This year, I want to look at the next few weeks a little differently and try to focus on a life of thanks-living as opposed to a season of Thanksgiving. I give thanks for all the blessings He has given to me, specifically my family, and this special community we call Hudsonville Christian School.
Serving Christ Together,
Dan Pott, Superintendent
