An Attitude of Gratitude
by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing;
Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own."
Netherlands Folk Hymn
My former pastor often quoted this prayer, "Lord, you have given us so much.
Grant us one thing more ~ a grateful heart." Do you have a grateful heart today?
November is the month which has been set aside for Thanksgiving. When I was growing up,
a "Thankful List" was our ticket to Thanksgiving Dinner. We still do this in my own family.
But now each of us has 5 kernals of corn beside our dinner plate and we rotate around
the tableeach time picking up a kernal and thanking God for one thing with each kernal.
What saddens me most about modern-day Thanksgivings is that so many people
focus on the peripherals of this holiday and forget the basic premise ~ that we are
to be Thankful to Someone (GOD) for something. How can you be thankful
'in general' ? Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. once said, "It must be an odd feeling to be thankful
to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening
on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful 'in general.'
It's very strange. It's a little like being married in general. "
How sad that with all our focus on the Pilgrims and
Native Americans coming together as brothers, we forget what sustained the Pilgrims
through that harsh winter was their deep faith in God who had brought them here
and would not forsake them. Pilgrims came to America seeking religious freedom
and they definitely knew WHOM to thank. They also knew that even though
they had experienced sorrow, loss and great trial in the previous year,
there were BLESSINGS and it did help to remember them!
"Count your blessings ~ name them one by one.
Count your many blessings see what God has done!"
hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
I suspect your year has also had its share of disappointment, setbacks and sadness.
You may not be feeling very thankful today. But may I challenge each of us to remember
our forefathers and foremothers who were able to continue to not only TRUST God,
but to see His Hand on their lives even in the midst of pain. If they took time to be
thankful, then certainly we can follow in their footsteps.
Perhaps you might want to set aside some time for reflection
on the blessings you have received this year,
even writing them down in a journal or on a card. Then read them back to God,
thanking Him for His provision in every circumstance (even if it wasn't exactly what
you were praying for). As we "enter His gates with thanksgiving and
His courts with praise" (Psalm 100) we will be better prepared for the
Holy Season of Advent ~~~ waiting for the Christ child to be born in our hearts anew.
Lucinda Secrest McDowell
