Dear one,
No doubt I have shared this thought with you previously, nonetheless, I trust that it is a worthy reminder. The Greek word for “thanksgiving” (εὐχαριστία) is the combination of two words: “good” or “well” (εὐ) and “favor” or “grace” (χάρις). Given this combination, I’d like to suggest that “thanksgiving” has much to do with “good grace,” allowing that “grace” denotes that which is unmerited, unachieved, and undeserved. Therefore, if you will, “thanksgiving” is a giving-response to the grace or favor received.
With this understanding, and given that in my last blog I encouraged you to heed Lincoln's invitation: “to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise,” I recognized my own need to accept his invitation. Therefore, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I set apart time to give thanks. In doing so, I noted seven “areas” in my life for which I am thankful (e.g. health, opportunities, relationships, home, finances, gifts, and purpose). Given these areas, I then delineated the causes for my thanks. In doing so, I found that I had listed one hundred descriptors for those seven areas.
Although I was moderately surprised by the one hundred descriptors, which gave “flesh” to the “skeleton of seven,” I was very surprised by my overwhelming sense of humility: that is, I felt greatly humbled. “Look at all you’ve been given,” I thought. “Surely these manifold gifts should eclipse any form of grumbling or griping.”
Ah, but it next occurred to me: “I wonder, do I avoid giving thanks, precisely because I do not want to recall my own indebtedness? Would I rather complain of presumed disadvantages, or glory in presumed accomplishments, than admit my indebtedness to so many others—and especially to my Creator?” With this question, suddenly I remembered Jesus’ encounter with ten lepers: upon being healed, nine of them immediately returned home, no doubt filled with delight, whereas only one, a Samaritan, first returned to Jesus, in order to give thanks. (Luke 17:16). Because of grace, the Samaritan gave thanks.
Surely there is that psychological truth: it is very difficult to complain, if one is thankful; and equally: it is very difficult to be thankful, if one is filled with discontent. Moreover, we tend to be most joyous, if not happy, when we are thankful. If this is true, I am then led to ask: Were we not created to be thankful? I believe so.
Thankfully,
Stan
Ps. If helpful, please share these thoughts with another ...
Created for thanksgiving?