On the last Thursday of November, our nation celebrates Thanksgiving.  People travel to be with loved ones.  Hugs are given; memories are shared; laughter is heard.  Families and friends gather around huge meals. 

Afterwards, some will settle in for a comfy nap on the coach or to watch football games, or both.  Others will go for a stroll, weather-permitting, to “walk off the extra calories.”  Groups will gather for cards or boardgames, or simply for pleasant conversation.  Some will check the store fliers to plan their Black Friday expeditions.  Still others will do something altogether different.  Every family and every person has their own Thanksgiving traditions, which is wonderful.

After all, it’s Thanksgiving!  It’s a national holiday … a day to relax and refresh.

But consider for a moment the name of the holiday.  The day isn’t called “Thanks-thinking.”  It was never intended to be a day where folks take the time for some self-ruminating on how good they have it.

Nor is it named “Thanks-gathering.”  That is, a day to get together with family and friends as a polite and pleasant acknowledgement of great blessings and a general nod toward gratefulness.

Rather, the day is named “Thanks-giving.”  That’s more than just reflecting about and rejoicing in one’s blessings, isn’t it?  The very name implies giving thanks to Someone, doesn’t it?  And there’s only One who has supplied us with all of our blessings.  It’s the Lord, of course. 

I wonder how many folks actually remember to thank the Lord on Thanksgiving Day.  It is the Lord who gave us life … and family … and a home … and food to eat … and clothes to wear … and vehicles to drive … and a place to live … and every single other blessing we enjoy.  And he’s even given us a Savior—the very best gift of all! 

The Bible informs us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. … He [even!] chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:17-18)

But in order to thank the One who gave all, a person has to know who that God is.  And they have to recognize how incredibly that God has blessed them.  Thankfully, you and I recognize both!

Which can only lead to one thing: giving thanks to our gracious God!

Happy Thanks-Giving, everyone!