“What can I offer Yahweh for all he has done for me?” — Psalm 116:12
I can truly say this has been my favorite thanksgiving season. I’ve repeatedly shared with you how 2021 has been a trying year for me, but struggle is what makes us aware of all God has done for us. Struggle never feels good while we’re in it, but on the other side of struggle we can look back and reflect on how much we have grown, how we have matured. and how faithful God has been. David did say he walked through the darkest valley, and I’m sure on the other side there was a praise of thanksgiving in his heart.
What made this thanksgiving so much different was my level of awareness about the occurrences in and around me. I am aware that I lost people who I once considered friends. I am aware that my health has been under attack this year. I am aware that parts of my life are shrouded with uncertainty. I am aware that death has shown up far too many times in my life this year; if it was not a family member it was someone from church, or someone I grew up with. I am aware that things ended rather disappointingly with the woman I originally thought I was meant to be with. Yet all these disappointments and heartaches allowed me to realize the most important thing:
Never once has God left me.
If anything God has stepped a little closer. I stopped focusing on who and what I lost and I began to heal. I allowed the Holy Soirit to have Her way in my life and in numerous respects I am not the mannI was before January. How can we practice gratitude when we focus on what is not? How can we say thank you when we are not aware of the fact that we lack nothing we need? To say thank you to the Lord I focused on what I have—family, friends, all that I am responsible for. I am grateful for the people God has recently brought into my life—one in particular. I am grateful that God did not allow certain things to happen: whatever you are going through in this moment could have been much worse. I am truly grateful for all the Lord has done for me. This is the happiest and most emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healed I have ever been.
lNo, not everyone sat down at the table Thursday. Thianksgiving was a little different I will admit, but we have so much to be thankful for. We are a blessed people. Perhaps the best part of this past Thursday was that I celebrated in my great-grandparents’ home; I haven’t stepped foot in that house in 15 years. They’re both gone on now, and I never thought I would ever go in that house again, but what a blessing for me. It’s amazing how God can take what you never thought would happen again and surpise you. God is a full-circle God. and in His time He redeems all things.
As thankful as I am, I knew that the day would end. yet my thanksgiving did not have to. What do I do after I celebrate? What do I do after giving thanks? It’s simple: after giving thanks comes the living of thanks. I have to live my life in a way that shows God I am thankful. I do this by serving, sacrificing, and surrendering to the call of the Holy Spirit. Living a thankful life means I have to let go of grudges; if there is one thing for certain it is that life is too short to go around remembering offenses. Learn to let it go so you can empty yourself enough for God to fill you with the blessings He has for you. How much do we forfeit holding on to hurt? God cannot give me what is mine while I am bitter. Learn what to let go of and what to hold on to. So many relationships have been broken because people hold too much. You cannot be thankful and withhold forgiveness.
Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in November and if God says the same, we wake up that next morning. Thanksgiving is over, but our living is not. Live a life of gratitude each and every day. You never know when it is your last. What can you and I offer Yahweh for all He has done—sustain us, heal us. restore us, change us—we can live lives that reflect what He has done.
Until next time, continue to stay guided by grace,
Tra
Guided by Grace 