Thanksgiving is upon us. And it’s the time of year where we begin seeing the “thankful” posts on Facebook. That’s all well and good, but what about after Thanksgiving? Shouldn’t we be looking for how to be thankful every day? That’s exactly what God calls us to do.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.” – 1 Chronicles 16:8
By living a thankful life and with a giving attitude, we’re following God’s call to share His grace, love and mercy. He’s not calling us “fake it”; even Christians have bad days and tough times. He’s not expecting us to have it all together or to not share our struggles. But He is reminding us to be thankful, even during the tough times.
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” – 1 Timothy 4:4-5
Being thankful in all circumstances doesn’t have to be difficult. All God is asking for is for us to live a life of grace. When we’re willing to extend and receive grace to and from others, we’re practicing the art of thanksgiving with the gift of understanding, love and forgiveness.
As Thanksgiving and Christmas draws near, I encourage you to think about your own life, situations and circumstances. How can you be thankful in the midst of struggles? How can you extend grace to others who need it?