Thanksgiving Despite Circumstances Part 2 by Steve Watters on 11/27/2008 at 6:00 AM

I re-read a post I did before Thanksgiving 2006 and was surprised to see how relevant it still is (especially the part about having a new baby boy). So here it is again:

How do you go into the Thanksgiving holiday when you can't think of anything to feel thankful for?  Although I'm thankful this year for a new baby boy and other blessings, there have been years when I could identify more challenges and setbacks than reasons for thanksgiving. How about you? What's this past year been like? Have you dealt with the death of someone you loved? Financial challenges? Relational disappointments? Or maybe even just the blandness of a life without much to be happy about?

I noticed a great quote by our Plugged In team yesterday by H.U. Westermayer. He said, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." In the face of loss of life, severe hardships and a still unknown future, the Pilgrims found within their recent harvest a reason to trust God and to return thanks.

Their attitude reminds me of the song The Martins released in the late 90s called "Count Your Blessing." For people who can't count many blessings in their life, the Martins suggest finding at least one blessing to count. The song goes, "Count your blessing. You'll find one if you try. Count on the Lord and watch that blessing multiply." Even in the worst circumstances, they remind us that we can still give thanks for a risen Savior and a perfect God. 

What one blessing can you count on? 

I re-read a post I did before Thanksgiving 2006 and was surprised to see how relevant it still is (especially the part about having a new baby boy). So here it is again:

How do you go into the Thanksgiving holiday when you can't think of anything to feel thankful for?  Although I'm thankful this year for a new baby boy and other blessings, there have been years when I could identify more challenges and setbacks than reasons for thanksgiving. How about you? What's this past year been like? Have you dealt with the death of someone you loved? Financial challenges? Relational disappointments? Or maybe even just the blandness of a life without much to be happy about?

I noticed a great quote by our Plugged In team yesterday by H.U. Westermayer. He said, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." In the face of loss of life, severe hardships and a still unknown future, the Pilgrims found within their recent harvest a reason to trust God and to return thanks.

Their attitude reminds me of the song The Martins released in the late 90s called "Count Your Blessing." For people who can't count many blessings in their life, the Martins suggest finding at least one blessing to count. The song goes, "Count your blessing. You'll find one if you try. Count on the Lord and watch that blessing multiply." Even in the worst circumstances, they remind us that we can still give thanks for a risen Savior and a perfect God. 

What one blessing can you count on? 

Thanksgiving Despite Circumstances Part 2 by Steve Watters on 11/27/2008 at 6:00 AM

I re-read a post I did before Thanksgiving 2006 and was surprised to see how relevant it still is (especially the part about having a new baby boy). So here it is again:

How do you go into the Thanksgiving holiday when you can't think of anything to feel thankful for?  Although I'm thankful this year for a new baby boy and other blessings, there have been years when I could identify more challenges and setbacks than reasons for thanksgiving. How about you? What's this past year been like? Have you dealt with the death of someone you loved? Financial challenges? Relational disappointments? Or maybe even just the blandness of a life without much to be happy about?

I noticed a great quote by our Plugged In team yesterday by H.U. Westermayer. He said, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." In the face of loss of life, severe hardships and a still unknown future, the Pilgrims found within their recent harvest a reason to trust God and to return thanks.

Their attitude reminds me of the song The Martins released in the late 90s called "Count Your Blessing." For people who can't count many blessings in their life, the Martins suggest finding at least one blessing to count. The song goes, "Count your blessing. You'll find one if you try. Count on the Lord and watch that blessing multiply." Even in the worst circumstances, they remind us that we can still give thanks for a risen Savior and a perfect God. 

What one blessing can you count on? 

I re-read a post I did before Thanksgiving 2006 and was surprised to see how relevant it still is (especially the part about having a new baby boy). So here it is again:

How do you go into the Thanksgiving holiday when you can't think of anything to feel thankful for?  Although I'm thankful this year for a new baby boy and other blessings, there have been years when I could identify more challenges and setbacks than reasons for thanksgiving. How about you? What's this past year been like? Have you dealt with the death of someone you loved? Financial challenges? Relational disappointments? Or maybe even just the blandness of a life without much to be happy about?

I noticed a great quote by our Plugged In team yesterday by H.U. Westermayer. He said, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." In the face of loss of life, severe hardships and a still unknown future, the Pilgrims found within their recent harvest a reason to trust God and to return thanks.

Their attitude reminds me of the song The Martins released in the late 90s called "Count Your Blessing." For people who can't count many blessings in their life, the Martins suggest finding at least one blessing to count. The song goes, "Count your blessing. You'll find one if you try. Count on the Lord and watch that blessing multiply." Even in the worst circumstances, they remind us that we can still give thanks for a risen Savior and a perfect God. 

What one blessing can you count on? 

Comments

[1. Rachael said the following at 9:00 AM on Nov 27:]

1

Heaven. God's sovereignty.

[2. farmer Tom said the following at 4:19 PM on Nov 27:]

2

Hey, Happy Thankgiving to all of you who regularly come here to Boundless.

I hope ya'll had a fine day, and were able to be thankful for something.

I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His love for me.

I'm also thankful for my lovely wife, who chooses to love me, (I don't know why).

And for my children, all four of them.

Have a wonderful day.

[3. Joseph said the following at 4:40 PM on Nov 27:]

3

Thanks for the perspective, this marking yet another year I am spending away from my friends and family, I was rather content neandering in self pity and being a holiday grinch.

[4. CG said the following at 10:52 PM on Nov 27:]

4

Thanks for posting this. I really appreciate the reminder that we can always find something to be thankful for. I was starting to get really down today about all that's gone wrong in my life in recent years, but then I decided to think of the things that are going right and it helped me have a much better attitude today.

[5. Bobert said the following at 11:59 AM on Nov 28:]

5

I had a peculiar urge to thank the Lord yesterday in this way:

"Thank you, God, that you don't give me everything I ask for."

My desires are so scattered and selfish that things would be an unsortable mess if He answered to my every whim. I'm thankful that He frustrates my purposes to reveal idols in my heart and to refine my faith by fire. If everything went my way, what need would I have for faith?

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

[6. Brittany said the following at 12:13 PM on Nov 28:]

6

Jesus loves me and I'm going to heaven. That is constant.

[7. Jade said the following at 12:58 PM on Nov 28:]

7

I am thankful for my family, my blessed husband, by brother and sisters, my parents. I thank God for time with them and I remember those who are far away from their loved ones this holiday season as I will be gone for the holidays next year.

I am thankful for this great yet imperfect country I live in (the US) and I am thankful for the freedoms I am promised in our Consitution.

Mostly I am thankful for and overwhelmed by God's grace in my life every day.

[8. JulieD said the following at 7:25 PM on Nov 28:]

8

I am thankful that even when all others might forsake me, and my whole world got turned upside-down/inside-out, God is still there.

This year was: having surgery, meeting my husband, lots of traveling, getting married, moving, quitting my career, getting a new career, getting in debt, working on getting out of debt, having my family basically disown me....

I could go on...but the point is...some days this year I felt like Job, but you know, for all of us, no matter what the year seems like, the biggest blessing of all is that GOD IS THERE. He's always been there, He always will be, and good news (literally!) HE DOES CARE ABOUT ALL OUR STUFF!!

I love God so much this Thanksgiving, in some ways more than ever before.

[9. Dan /realname/ said the following at 10:50 PM on Nov 28:]

9

Too bad some people aren't alive anymore to give thanks because a few greedy idiots could barely digest their thanksgiving feast before running out to the malls and act like depraved morons and stampede people to death just to pick up some soon-to-be-forgotten electrionic gadget that will probably be on sale for the same price next week.

Today I saw a news story of a Unitarian Church that had a Black Friday morning service to remind people what Thanksgiving is really all about. A UNITARIAN church!!!!!

Yes, American is indeed a Chritian nation that has NEVER forgotten what Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about....

[10. Christopher Lake said the following at 6:39 AM on Nov 29:]

10

The one blessing on which I know that I can always count:

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28-29, NASB)

For the Christian, God redeems *all* events in his/her life (not always perceptibly but truly!), even the most painful, traumatic ones. What an unspeakable comfort!

On a side note, if it can be described as such, I love the "called according to His purpose" part-- it's wonderful to share the Reformed theology of the Pilgrims, especially at Thanksgiving! :-)

[11. Andrea said the following at 11:07 PM on Nov 29:]

11

I lost my mother to colon cancer just over a month ago. Our first Thanksgiving without her has been surreal. But it has been surrounded by the care and companionship of friends who have stepped up and given me something to be thankful for ... their love. Even though my father and brothers and I could not spend the holiday together, my friends insisted that I not skip Thanksgiving. I went to not one, but two Thanksgivings this year.

I could never have known over the years that God brought into my life over the past few years people who would care for me now. And I have had to learn lessons in trust and letting other people take care of me. I've let go of some independence and cried on some shoulders. And I have been blessed.

It brings tears to my eyes just how much my friends and family have done for me. I thank them today. For their sacrificial and compassionate love.

[1. Rachael said the following at 9:00 AM on Nov 27:]

1

Heaven. God's sovereignty.

[2. farmer Tom said the following at 4:19 PM on Nov 27:]

2

Hey, Happy Thankgiving to all of you who regularly come here to Boundless.

I hope ya'll had a fine day, and were able to be thankful for something.

I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His love for me.

I'm also thankful for my lovely wife, who chooses to love me, (I don't know why).

And for my children, all four of them.

Have a wonderful day.

[3. Joseph said the following at 4:40 PM on Nov 27:]

3

Thanks for the perspective, this marking yet another year I am spending away from my friends and family, I was rather content neandering in self pity and being a holiday grinch.

[4. CG said the following at 10:52 PM on Nov 27:]

4

Thanks for posting this. I really appreciate the reminder that we can always find something to be thankful for. I was starting to get really down today about all that's gone wrong in my life in recent years, but then I decided to think of the things that are going right and it helped me have a much better attitude today.

[5. Bobert said the following at 11:59 AM on Nov 28:]

5

I had a peculiar urge to thank the Lord yesterday in this way:

"Thank you, God, that you don't give me everything I ask for."

My desires are so scattered and selfish that things would be an unsortable mess if He answered to my every whim. I'm thankful that He frustrates my purposes to reveal idols in my heart and to refine my faith by fire. If everything went my way, what need would I have for faith?

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

[6. Brittany said the following at 12:13 PM on Nov 28:]

6

Jesus loves me and I'm going to heaven. That is constant.

[7. Jade said the following at 12:58 PM on Nov 28:]

7

I am thankful for my family, my blessed husband, by brother and sisters, my parents. I thank God for time with them and I remember those who are far away from their loved ones this holiday season as I will be gone for the holidays next year.

I am thankful for this great yet imperfect country I live in (the US) and I am thankful for the freedoms I am promised in our Consitution.

Mostly I am thankful for and overwhelmed by God's grace in my life every day.

[8. JulieD said the following at 7:25 PM on Nov 28:]

8

I am thankful that even when all others might forsake me, and my whole world got turned upside-down/inside-out, God is still there.

This year was: having surgery, meeting my husband, lots of traveling, getting married, moving, quitting my career, getting a new career, getting in debt, working on getting out of debt, having my family basically disown me....

I could go on...but the point is...some days this year I felt like Job, but you know, for all of us, no matter what the year seems like, the biggest blessing of all is that GOD IS THERE. He's always been there, He always will be, and good news (literally!) HE DOES CARE ABOUT ALL OUR STUFF!!

I love God so much this Thanksgiving, in some ways more than ever before.

[9. Dan /realname/ said the following at 10:50 PM on Nov 28:]

9

Too bad some people aren't alive anymore to give thanks because a few greedy idiots could barely digest their thanksgiving feast before running out to the malls and act like depraved morons and stampede people to death just to pick up some soon-to-be-forgotten electrionic gadget that will probably be on sale for the same price next week.

Today I saw a news story of a Unitarian Church that had a Black Friday morning service to remind people what Thanksgiving is really all about. A UNITARIAN church!!!!!

Yes, American is indeed a Chritian nation that has NEVER forgotten what Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about....

[10. Christopher Lake said the following at 6:39 AM on Nov 29:]

10

The one blessing on which I know that I can always count:

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28-29, NASB)

For the Christian, God redeems *all* events in his/her life (not always perceptibly but truly!), even the most painful, traumatic ones. What an unspeakable comfort!

On a side note, if it can be described as such, I love the "called according to His purpose" part-- it's wonderful to share the Reformed theology of the Pilgrims, especially at Thanksgiving! :-)

[11. Andrea said the following at 11:07 PM on Nov 29:]

11

I lost my mother to colon cancer just over a month ago. Our first Thanksgiving without her has been surreal. But it has been surrounded by the care and companionship of friends who have stepped up and given me something to be thankful for ... their love. Even though my father and brothers and I could not spend the holiday together, my friends insisted that I not skip Thanksgiving. I went to not one, but two Thanksgivings this year.

I could never have known over the years that God brought into my life over the past few years people who would care for me now. And I have had to learn lessons in trust and letting other people take care of me. I've let go of some independence and cried on some shoulders. And I have been blessed.

It brings tears to my eyes just how much my friends and family have done for me. I thank them today. For their sacrificial and compassionate love.