Thanksgiving Challenge

I have a new laptop. I AM SO EXCITED!!! This is my combination birthday and Christmas gift. It is tiny and cute, less than five pounds. Simply adorable, complete with neon green sleeve and red poppy accent. The keys sing to me as the glistening (a.k.a. non-juice-stained or toddler finger-printed) exterior further brightens this already sunshine-y day. *sigh* I am so happy.

Thanksgiving is only a couple days away. Isn’t it wonderful to be forced to be thankful? It seems human to forget; to take things for granted. It is awful how easily we become accustomed to the blessings we’ve been given, almost instantly becoming bored with what we knew we had to have just moments before. But on Thanksgiving we are forced to remember our blessings. We are obligated to think of at least one thing we are thankful for. Once we think of one, many flow. Thanksgiving should be a monthly holiday. Truly, we should be thankful for everything every day, but if every day were Thanksgiving, we would eventually get bored with it and forget to be thankful even when the holiday demands it. So, I suggest a once-a-month holiday. Or maybe once a week. Of course, that would be a Sabbath, wouldn’t it?

When we first moved into this house, I thanked God for it every day. I was so grateful to be out of our apartment! Two years later my comments about this place are more complaints than praise. When did I stop thanking Him for this house? When did my focus change from the positive to the negative? Now instead of reveling in the space and back yard, I only see how small it is and what needs to be fixed. It is still the same house. It hasn’t changed. I am still thrilled to be out of apartments, but I’ve stopped being thankful that we are.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

The blessings God gives us may not always seem new to us. They may lose their luster as we quickly become accustomed to having them, but the truth is: they are new every morning. We do not deserve them any more today than we did when first we received them. They are renewed for us each day. Take a few moments this week to remember the blessings God continues to give you; the ones that no longer seem new, but are still great blessings.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so much. Yes, I am thankful for this new laptop, but I am also thankful for my old laptop. It has been very good to me. Both were unexpected gifts. I am thankful for my children – also unexpected gifts. I am thankful for my husband, who gave them all to me! I thank God for our family, our house, our friends … even our minivan. I am thankful for each new morning, each new opportunity to praise Him. I am thankful for you, as you read my ramblings, and all the encouragement you have given me. I am thankful for the future and all that it holds. I am thankful the future holds surprises…

God’s love and faithfulness is indeed so great.