Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)
According to Google’s online dictionary, “gratitude” is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. The Thanksgiving holiday comes but once a year, but according to the Word, we should be thankful in all circumstances. God blesses us each and every day; therefore, it is our solemn duty to show Him our gratitude daily. Blessings come to us both great and small, but be thankful for them all.
Our first blessing of the day is to wake up and see another day, and our first words uttered should be thanking God for this blessing. Having an attitude of gratitude will help us to avoid complaining, whining and crying. God is so merciful and worthy of our thanksgiving and praise.
Over a quarter of a million people in America alone have succumbed to the Coronavirus in less than a year. For many of our families, Thanksgiving is not going to be so joyful because of their losses, grief, and pain. I know all too well what it’s like to miss loved ones, especially on holidays. In our nation we are at the point of losing an average of 1,500 lives a day. Although this is grim and painful, there is still room for gratitude. If you are reading my article right now, you are better than blessed because you are alive. Even if you do not have everything that you want at this point in your life, show gratitude for what you do have because you could be among those who have nothing.
Psalm 136:1 (ESV) declares, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Therefore, always maintain an attitude of gratitude!
One of my college classmates, Edna Martin, with whom I just reunited, posted this on Facebook “Lessons from COVID-19” (God’s Word for You Today):
• Life is short.
• Death is sure.
• Jobs are temporary.
• Health is wealth.
• Tomorrow is not promised.
• Eternity is at hand.
• Only God can save.
Therefore, live your life each day as if it were your last, count your many blessings, and be thankful for what the Lord is doing for you each and every day of your life.
As I close my column on this topic, I will share one woman’s story (L. Williams) of gratitude for another chance at life:
“It was Thanksgiving 2009. Our church was having a sharing time. We were asked, ‘What are you thankful for?’
“I remember simply saying, ‘Air.’ I had just recently been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. It was becoming very difficult for me to breathe. I loved to sing during worship time. I would start to sing, and after two or three words into the song, I had no air. It was a very scary time for me because my brother died from this disease.
“My doctor told me there was no cure; there was no medication or exercise I could do that would slow down the calcification of my lungs. Every day it was getting worse. I prayed, my husband prayed, my family prayed, my friends prayed. But there seemed to be no change. My breathing became more and more difficult.
“In January our church had special prayer nights. I believe it was the third evening that we were asked to especially pray for the sick in our church. I said to my husband, ‘I really don’t want to go there. I’ve already had so much prayer. God knows what I need. I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself.’
“However, when the night came, we went. After there had been general prayer, we were asked, ‘If you want prayer for a specific need, come and sit in this chair; you’ll be anointed with oil, and the elders will pray for you.’
“After an inner struggle, I stepped forward and was prayed for. I went back to my seat as though nothing had happened, except I knew I had done what God wanted of me.
“In February I went for another series of tests. Shortly after this, I remember one Sunday morning while in the worship service, I turned to my husband and whispered, ‘I just sang a whole song! I had enough air!’
“In March I saw my specialist for a follow up to my tests. He looked at his chart, and he looked at me and said, ‘You are of the two percent of people where the disease reverses itself. It’s gone! Your lungs are fine!’
(Anna Bright is a minister and educator in Walterboro. She can be reached at abrightcolumn@lowcountry.com)
