I wonder how many of us have thought about “why” we should
be thankful to God? I’m not sure many of us have. I have a Facebook and Twitter
account. I have many friends, colleagues and family with whom I stay in contact
and follow through these social media feeds. All of us post pictures, share
videos, rant and rave over the latest news or political issues, share recipes
and invite people to events. Unfortunately, some use it to bully others, air
their personal laundry, debate issues and call people out for their beliefs
and/or political views. What I find missing in most of the social media feeds,
including mine, is thankfulness, compassion and respect for others no matter
how different or unique they may be.
For the last 18 months, I have been President/CEO of
Buckhorn Children & Family Services. During this time, I have learned a lot
about being thankful and depending on God’s care and provision. Hidden deep in
the Appalachia Mountains is an invisible city of children and youth; the
children and youth who reside with us do so because of severe abuse and neglect
in their lives. Because of our geographical location, the only way for our
ministry to be known is for us to be the voice and face of these whom we serve
so that we can find additional resources to meet the needs of our children.
My staff and I have spent many a night praying for God’s provision, knowing that when the sun broke over the eastern sky the next morning, bills would be due and the bank account would be empty. Nevertheless, we held steadfast in our prayers, thanked Him for a century of service to children, and asked for one more blessing so we could serve another day. Each time, we would wake to find God’s provision and blessing!
I’ve been a follower of Christ for 42 years and in fulltime
ministry for 24 of those years. As I look through these years, I realize that
expressing my thanks to our Heavenly Father may be as powerful as any other
discipline of the Christian life. Being thankful compels me to fix my eyes on
God rather than on myself. It humbles me. It lifts my mind off of my troubles
and anxieties and reminds me that God will always provide for my needs, and
that for those who love God all thing
work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose
(Romans 8:28).
As you approach Thanksgiving, spend time listing God’s
blessings in your life. Don’t stop until you’ve identified at least 10-15
blessings. This exercise will force you to think creatively about God’s care
and provision—even in the small things.
