Thanksgiving

 

‘Now be thankful for good things below
Now be thankful to your maker
For the rose, the red rose blooms for all to know’

From ‘Now be Thankful’ by Fairport Convention (a 1970 single release)

 

 

Advent began early this year. 27^th November is the very earliest Sunday on which it can occur. This can be confusing for those who are used to Advent Calendars and Candles marking the passing days, as most of these start on the 1^st December. And that confusion is all the more on those years when Advent Sunday is on Sunday 3^rd December (the latest date it can be).

 

It is just the way the calendar falls.

 

Our American friends had the same issue with ‘Thanksgiving’ which is celebrated on the last Thursday of November, and so – this year – was as early as it could be; Thursday 24^th November.

 

And given that any or all of these dates (Thanksgiving, Advent Sunday, 1^st December) in many people’s minds, mark the beginning of the Christmas preparation season, we tend to have a choice (or not, given that commercially these preparations begin in October!).

 

However, all these musings are really a bit of an aside. It is Thanksgiving which is on my mind today. Not the particular celebration of this in the United States, but the whole matter of giving thanks.

 

As I begin to look forward to Christmas I often find myself reflecting on the good things in my life, perhaps all the more so since becoming a grandparent.

 

And yet, the other day when I was out walking the dogs (for whom I am also thankful!) I found myself feeling a little irritated and disgruntled. I cannot now recall what it was that had got to me, but I was unsettled and a wee bit unhappy. As I pondered why, I found myself asking why I am not more consciously thankful for life’s blessings and why I did not more often specifically thank God for these blessings.

 

I further reasoned that my lack of thankfulness might well be one reason why I got irritated and impatient!

 

It was on that very same day that I read Psalm 50 where the Psalmist says ‘Offer to God a Sacrifice of thanksgiving’ (vs 14) and then quotes God ‘those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honour me’ (vs 23).

 

And so, in the light of all of this, I have decided to try and be more committed to giving thanks, and doing so specifically and regularly. And even if I am feeling irritated, impatient, or grumpy, to still give thanks.

 

As Paul said ‘Give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5: 18)