Category: Thanksgiving

Being “thankful” to God is often spoken of as a “duty,” and “obligation.” While no objection can rightfully be registered to thanksgiving as such, we surely must not limit our understanding of it to this realm. One might as well think of watermelon as being composed only of rind, or of roses only of thorns if we fail to see the purely voluntary and “from-the-heart” side of thanksgiving. While duty and obligation define the obedient nature of the children of God, there is much more to our relationship to God than response to commands.

Let us determine to live our lives as the one who returned in thanksgiving to glorify God for the blessings received. By so doing, we can provide an example of thankfulness which can teach those around us and ultimately our nation just as that Samaritan did so long ago. Our lives should manifest a thankful spirit, not only at Thanksgiving, but every day we live by the grace of God.