Why I’m Thankful in 2020

It’s the “season” to be thankful. I know that you aren’t thankful only at Thanksgiving, but I think we need to focus a little more on being thankful this year than we have in years past.

This year? Really? The year of Covid19, lockdowns, political mayhem, riots, and unprecedented social upheaval? You’re saying we should be thankful for all of that!?

Well, maybe not all those things specifically, but then again, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s hard to be thankful when Covid19 takes a family member or friend. It’s hard to be thankful when we watch our country coming apart at the seams during a presidential election. It’s hard to be thankful when you get laid off because your company is having to cut back. Hard…but not impossible.

Here’s what I mean:

• Thankfulness makes me focus on what I have instead of what I want.
  • I don’t know about you, but I have WAY MORE “stuff” than I’ll ever need. How many downloaded movies does it take to have a good library? I don’t know but I’ll bet it’s a lot fewer than I have now. I want a bigger big-screen TV. What…52 inches isn’t big enough? I may not have a lot of money in the bank, but I have enough to feed my family.

• Thankfulness magnifies grace. 
  • Grace is defined as getting something you don’t deserve. I don’t deserve the wife I have, the three grown kids and their spouses, or the seven grandkids I’ve been blessed with. Most importantly, I don’t deserve the love and salvation given to me freely by Jesus Christ. Wow, how blessed can one person be?

• Thankfulness pushes me to be positive. 
  • It’s been a tough year around our house. My guess is that it’s been as tough or worse at your house too. Yet, when I read what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, I can’t help but be thankful for what I have and for how God has gently pulled me through this year. As hard as things have been, I can’t help but smile at God’s attention to my problems.

Being thankful may mean finding someone who is struggling with something in their life and you making an effort to help them in the struggle. Being thankful may mean going home from work a little early to spend time with your spouse and kids (because you’re way too busy). Being thankful may mean getting on the phone and talking to your aging parents on a consistent basis.

So, with all that in mind, how can you demonstrate your thankfulness today… this week… this month?