Introduction: 

We could do a whole year’s study on this week’s scripture!  Not because it is so comforting, but rather, because we have a lot of questions, protests, and exceptions when we hear words like always, without ceasing, all circumstances, and God’s will.  The key word to pay attention to here is thanks as in thanksgiving.  Giving thanks and feeling gratitude are the tool we reflect on this week.

First, let’s talk about gratitude.  Gratitude is a popular word these days and has marketing value.  Gratitude sells journals, coffee mugs, and refrigerator magnets.  Gratitude is a feeling we experience when something good happens to us.  Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is something we do.  We give thanks.  We say thank you to God and to those around us.  Feeling grateful is wonderful, but it’s not enough when life is hard.  Hard times are when we need to practice giving thanks.

Thanksgiving is a power tool that sustains our faith in God and our love for one another.  Thanksgiving is a word of connecting and relationship.  When we give thanks, even when we don’t feel grateful, we recognize the presence, love, and connection we have with God and others.  Thanksgiving is possible even in the hardest of life’s circumstances.  We give thanks in all circumstances FOR the community of those who love and support us and FOR God’s eternal love and grace.  Of course, as we give thanks, we can’t help but feel grateful.