Thanksgiving: It’s So Much More
November – whenever I think of this month, I think of Thanksgiving (duh). Every year I try to become more thankful in my prayers, as I go about my day, and as I think about what God is doing in our life. I started this post a day or two ago, but never finished it. In fact, I ended up just deleting most of what I had already typed. I was going to do a “charting” of what I am thankful for – for 30 days, I was going to list something that I was thankful for. As I started to really think about it, it wasn’t satisfying to me. I kept thinking, “there is so much MORE that I am thankful for!” 30 days in November just doesn’t cut it.
You may think this is strange, but it REALLY started to bother me – why I always “choose” November to be thankful. Really Kristin? Is that the only month that you can do a “30 day-thankful list?” Honestly, I am frustrated with myself. Is that really where my faith stands? I realized I need to make some changes in my life. I need to be more thankful: I know, you’re probably thinking, what a CLICHE Kristin! EVERYBODY is trying to be more thankful this month. Yup, chalk me up as one. But this isn’t something I just want to do for 30 days. I want to live a more thankful life. I once heard a sermon (and I’m sure you’ve heard of this yourself) called “Thanks-LIVING.” God is DOING SO MUCH in our life right now and everyday I am becoming more and more thankful for how He is working in our life. He is wowing us in ways we NEVER would have imagined! Of course good circumstances tend to make us more thankful. But today in Bible study, we were reminded that no matter what the circumstances, we are to rejoice. Paul, while imprisoned, still rejoiced because the gospel of Christ was continually being proclaimed (Philippians 1:12-18). ThanksLIVING means thanking God in ALL circumstances – not just when times are good; not just when the month of November comes around. But we are to LIVE Thanksgiving.
I got a wake up call today. I am glad God led me to NOT post the post I originally typed up. I know why He made me feel “uneasy” about it – because He was not just satisfied with my “30 days” of being thankful. I’m not dissing those who are doing the 30-day thankful list. I just know that I need to challenge myself to go BEYOND the 30 days.
Random…but it reminds me of the Love Dare book, based on the movie “Fireproof.” Caleb didn’t stop at day 40 – he continued the journey and it ended up making a difference in his marriage. I want thankfulness to flow out of who I am as a daughter in Christ. I don’t want my faith to be based on a “number.”
I need to make some changes. Thanks for reading my rambling…
