“Why?!” She screamed out in wonder, anger, and pain. I peered over the chair sticking out of the wall–right beside my head. Carol, a fifteen year-old Freshman was freaking out, and rightly so, because I had just informed her that her mother had been in a horrific freak car accident.
I tried to be calm, as I softly but firmly asked Carol to calm down. She was looking at me but I wasn’t sure that the words were registering, so I asked her again…this time she softly mumbled “I’m sorry for…that” as she gestured to the chair protruding from the wall. The counselor in the office next to mine was banging on my office door and asking if everything was okay. I looked up and said, “no, everything’s not okay, but we’re both safe.”
My co-worker looked at me with a worried and wondering expression, sighed, turned around and went back to her office. Carol and I spent the rest of the hour talking about the Thanksgiving plans they had, which would naturally now have to be cancelled. Carol looked as though she had aged ten years in the past hour. She looked at me blankly and simply and softly mumbled, “how can I even be thankful for anything ever again at Thanksgiving?!”
Thanksgiving…Not So Much…
It doesn’t take something as drastic as a devastating personal loss to make many not look forward to—and even dread—Thanksgiving. It’s true that life is hard and it seems that the longer we live on this earth the more complicated and messy it seems to be. Many may think with all the uncertainty that’s happening in the world, I mean, really, what do I have to be thankful about?
The Bible has a lot to say about Thanksgiving; well, not the specific United States turkey-centric holiday that precedes the fat, red guy laughing “Ho! Ho! Ho!” But the idea of giving thanks. Well, it’s more like the idea of living thanks.
Let me explain.
Thanks-living Explained
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter (what the Bible calls an epistle), called Colossians, to the Christians in a church in Colossae, an ancient city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, and one of the most celebrated cities of southern Anatolia (modern Turkey).
Paul talked about a lot of different things (I think he definitely had ADHD), but the general theme of this book is the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His all-sufficiency in meeting our needs in every area of life. Definitely something that we desperately need to be reminded of today!
This is a fairly short letter—I mean, epistle, with only four chapters. But, right before he ends his letter he reminds his readers that, regardless of what’s happening in their lives, that they can live with peace, power, and purpose, because of Who God is:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:1-17, NLT).
Did you notice how many times he told the Christians that they should be thankful? Three. Did you catch the reason why he said that Christians should act differently than other people? Simply put because of what Jesus did for each of them. Paul told them that they should not just be thankful and speak thankfully, but they should live thankfully.
The Main Question
Now here’s the main question: do you live thankful? Not just on Thanksgiving, but every day? If you’re a follower of Jesus, you can—and should—live thankful. You can let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…and always be thankful (Colossians 3:16)!
If you aren’t sure how to do it, check out some resources that will help you, your friends, and your family, not just to give thanks, but to live thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving, and remember to stuff the turkey, not yourselves.
Additional Resources
7 Ways to Cope With Thanksgiving Blues
Tips for when you don’t feel thankful or grateful.
Teaching Kids How to Be Grateful
Tips for a Health Thanksgiving
Why Holiday Traditions May Be More Important Than You Think
6 Ways You Can Be More Grateful, and Why It Is Worth It
