By Miriam, Blogger from Nigeria
GOD has been so good to me, even in the midst of chaotic situations I have experienced this year. Situations that have made me question his goodness over and over again. Recently, I took time out to be in a quiet space to reflect…and guess what? I realized how blessed I am in spite of this topsy-turvy ride!
As you celebrate another Thanksgiving, take a moment to pause and think. I feel that you have quite a number of things that have happened to bring you to where you are right now. Start counting those things and be sincerely thankful for each of them. I do not know where you are at in this season, or what has happened to you, or how this year has been for you…Maybe you decided to box the issues in your life so you can have one day to just be thankful and then go back to those issues, maybe you decided to pretend so no one will know how bad your situation is or how angry you are, maybe you are too angry to even act otherwise, so you can’t be bothered about being thankful. Whatever your situation is, I do know that having a sincere heart of thanksgiving brings you to a good place. So again, if you will only just stop for a moment to think, I bet you will have many reasons to be thankful. Even if they aren’t tangible blessings like financial provisions, good jobs, good marriages, and food—the blessings might be intangible ones like someone suddenly reaching out to you in your vulnerable moments to be there for you, unusual strength in moments of extreme tiredness you cannot explain, or passing through very difficult situations to come out on the other side intact.
To you who have passed through the fire and come out wounded and scared, Romans 8:28 says “…all that happens to us is working for our good…” So, still be thankful. Count the difficulties and give thanks for each one of them. As King Solomon said in the book of Proverbs about times and seasons for everything, use this season to celebrate with an attitude of counting every one of your blessings and naming them one by one, even if they came as difficulties. Be thankful for every single one of them.
In my culture, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving like you do. Nonetheless, I have learned to cultivate a lifestyle of thankfulness in all seasons, even the difficult ones. And, doing that has shifted my heart’s posture, my perspective, and brought me to a place of contentment and trust in God. In this special season, even for me as someone who isn’t living in your culture, I encourage and challenge us all to stop and say thank you to God Almighty.
Before I sound like a preacher in front of a congregation, I just want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. I pray that as you all gather around your dining tables to enjoy meals of deliciously baked turkeys and all the special delicacies, may your thankfulness come from that place of contentment that ignites a heart full of gratitude and lips uttering praises.
Laugh out loud-sing out joyfully and dance exuberantly!
Happy Thanksgiving!
