It is the month of Thanksgiving! You have probably noticed that around this time of year thousands share all of the things they are thankful for. Thankfulness is something that needs to be taught, expressed, shared, and most of all felt.
I can scroll through my newsfeed on Facebook throughout November and see post after post of Thanks. People from all walks of life are very thankful for family, homes, friends, possessions, and experiences. But I wonder who are they thankful TO?
If you are thankful for good weather, who are you thankful to? Your mom or your neighbor didn’t provide that for you. And no, mother nature didn’t either. The Earth has no power in and of itself. If you are thankful for a job or a promotion, who are you thankful to? If you are thankful for your family, who do you thank for that? Thanks, although good, can bring our focus to the gifts rather than the giver.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
There are many people that I am thankful for: Family, friends, people that I’ve never met that have spoken into my life through books or teachings. I am so thankful for them and thankful for the gifts that they have and share, for laughter, wisdom, help, assurance, encouragement, assistance, giving of time or finances, the list goes on and on. I am thankful for them. But my thanks is ultimately TO God. These people, when they act and give and serve according to what they have been given, it is because of God. He is the one who inspires the giver to give. He is the one who gave the gifts of wisdom and encouragement and all other things. I am thankful that the person is using and expressing these gifts, but they are gifts from God.
I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to go the places that I have gotten to travel to. I love travelling and I know God gave me that love. He paved the way for me to get to go through gifts from other people, and opportunities to work to earn money to pay my way. It is a gift from God.
I am thankful for the friendships that I’ve had that have lasted through the years. These are the kinds of friends that are still friends even if you haven’t had much contact. When you meet up again, it’s like no time has passed. These friends are gifts from God.
I am thankful for the family I have been born into. For my parents, step-parents, grandparents, and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins in all these different walks of life, many of whom I haven’t seen in over a decade. But I am so proud to call them my family. They are a gift from God.
I am thankful for the family God has brought into my life since I married Jim. The family that He created through us is truly unique and very close to my heart. The four people that live in my house with me are my favorite people in the world. They are my treasure. And they are a gift from God.
I am thankful for so many things, but I am only thankful to my Heavenly Father. He’s the one who gave them to me.
Who are you thankful to? I would like to pose a challenge, a fun way to direct our Thanks to God this month. On the Strands of Pearls Facebook page you will find this photo:
Share it on your news feed along with your posts of Thanks. Gifts are great, but let’s set our eyes on the Giver!
[To go directly to the Strands of Pearls Facebook page, click on the Facebook logo at the header section of this webpage (on a computer) or located in the menu (on a moble device).]