Linus sat at the table, pen in hand, writing. His first attempt ended up crumpled on the floor. And so did his second. And third. And fourth. Finally, in frustration, he muttered, “Rats! It’s hard to write a thank you note for a Christmas toy that’s already broken.”
You know the feeling, don’t you? I do. That’s the feeling I often have at the end of Thanksgiving. The ball games are finished. The meal has been relished. The friends have returned home. The children are occupied with books or projects. Then I walk into the kitchen. And the dishes and leftover turkey and pans and cluttered table and soiled dishrags await me. It’s amazing how quickly one can turn from thankful to resentful.
So the day is over (or just about over). Is there a leftover for which we can be thankful? Indeed there is.
There are more than 130 verses of instruction concerning thankfulness in Scripture. And in the New Testament, the most emphasized object of thankfulness is God’s people. That’s right. Not God. Not family. Not country. The church. We give thanks for what God has done and is doing in the lives of other believers (Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3-4). We give thanks for how God has used others in our lives (1 Thess. 3:9). We give thanks for the sacrifice of other believers for our sake (Rom. 16:3-4). We give thanks for the prayers of other believers (2 Cor. 1:8-11).
Why should we do this? There are at least two reasons. One, because God said to do it (and that’s the only reason we need!). Two, because it is through others that God has chosen to mature us (Prov. 27:17). The Christian life is designed to be lived in community. There are no Lone Rangers in the spiritual life. I need you and you need me. God has given you to me and me to you. In fact, God has made the church to be one of the means through which He accomplishes His will in the lives of His people. And that’s a reason for thanks!
On this day of thanksgiving, take some time to reflect on whom God has used to impact your life. Then give thanks for those people by name (you might send them a note or give them a call too).
Words of Grace 