As I mentioned in a previous “Clergy Corner,” I grew up in a small town in the northern part of New York, very close to the border with Canada. The town was in the middle of the Adirondack Park, on a lake, and surrounded by mountains. Not mountains like Colorado, but mountains just the same.
November was always one of my favorite months. It’s well into the school year so you’re already over the shock of going back to school after a long summer break. All the trees have turned and the mountains are filled with beautiful colors of brown, orange and red, and, soon, if not already, the leaves start to fall.
The first snowfall of the year is something very special. You know it’s coming and you can’t wait until that first morning when you wake up to find everything covered in white. It is such a beautiful sight. Everything looks so clean and pure. It’s almost like a fresh start.
November also has Thanksgiving. I love thanksgiving. What does thanksgiving mean to you? Family, food, football or a short vacation from work and school? Thanksgiving means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me, it’s the combination of several different things. The change in the leaves, signifying change in life; snow, telling me that we can change and that there is forgiveness; family, because we will be getting together; and, of course, Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on all God has done for us.
Ephesians 5:20 says, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Giving thanks, especially in the midst of some of the difficult times many are going through, is difficult. Maybe it’s because of our perspective. The Bible teaches that without a proper relationship with God, we cannot have a proper perspective. Gratitude and Grace come from the same root word. If I’m thankful for what I’ve been given and for what God has done for me, then that will be reflected in my living a gracious life and giving grace to others.
Think and Thank are also from the same root word. If we sit for a moment and think about all that God has done for us, sending His Son to die on the cross to provide a way of salvation, preparing a place in Heaven for all of those who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and daily providing for our needs. I think we sometimes forget that God never promised to provide for our wants, but only for our needs.
Let’s take time to THINK about all God had done for us, then THANK Him for His provision. This will provide us with a heart of GRATITUDE, which will produce a GRACIOUS attitude.
Editor’s Note: As we savor our recent Thanksgiving time with family and friends, let us remember to give thanks all year long.
Deron Peterson is is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach.
