BY JESSICA LANDMON
The last few days have not been my most shining moments. I’m not sure if it’s because we are entering our ninth month of the pandemic or because my family and I have been quarantined for the last two weeks because of three separate COVID-19 exposures. But in either case, my attitude has gone from “let’s look at the gift God is giving us in this season” to “2020 really stinks!”
Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year, and it’s my holiday to host. It’s a special time to celebrate all of God’s blessings – no presents – just family coming together focusing on His goodness. With more restrictions mounting by the day and trying to follow all the safety precautions, I am struggling to have a “be thankful in all things” heart. In fact, my heart has been filled with a lot of frustration and self-pity. Anyone else?
“I want to do Thanksgiving the way I always do it. I love my traditions. My plans have been hijacked,” were just a few of the thoughts replaying across my mind this past week. Then the Holy Spirit gently pointed out – at three o’clock in the morning, no less – that there was an awful lot of “I” and “my” in my thinking. And immediately, I was convicted.
You see, my perspective was way off. My heart was out of alignment with God’s. I was complaining that the holiday for thankfulness and gratitude wasn’t going to look like or feel like what I wanted. Did you catch that? I was complaining that I couldn’t celebrate my thankfulness to God in the way that I wanted or was accustomed to. It actually seems ridiculous to even admit.
God reminded me that I need to be thankful in all things, not just when things go my way. So, if you are feeling discouraged, ungrateful, and generally unhappy with the way the holidays are looking, let me invite you to read the scriptures below, reminding us how important thanksgiving is to our Heavenly Father. I hope that they put everything into the right perspective as we close out this year.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. – Psalm 7:17
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. – Psalm 100:4-5
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:19-20
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18