Give Tanks

This is the time of the year when we are thinking about the giving of gifts to family and friends, so am I suggesting a possibility in the title? No, not at all. One of the most amusing and, sometimes, challenging things that appeal to Cindy and me in this land are the accents. One sure-fire way to tell if someone is from the Republic of Ireland is by their pronunciation of “th’s,” or rather, their non-pronunciation of them. So what I have titled this wee writing is in the southern dialect’s way of saying, “Give thanks!”

Having just celebrated a Thanksgiving dinner with members of Harvest, I have had to reflect on what I can give thanks to God for. At first, all the good stuff comes to mind – the things we like to think of as “blessings.”  But the Bible talks about the “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” To be thankful for difficulties, disappointments, defeats and even disease is giving a sacrifice of thanksgiving. When we express faith by such a sacrifice of thanks, we grow in understanding of God and also grow deeper in the love that the Lord has for us.

Like a little child at Christmastime, we may have our heart set on a G.I. Joe tank as a gift, but would we be thankful if we received a pair of socks instead? So in our lives right now we may be receiving tanks or socks, but no matter what is coming our way, we can be “giving tanks.” In fact, Cindy and I will be spending this Christmas apart for the first time in our marriage, but we will still be able to give tanks.