2 weeks Ago By DENNIS HICKMAN contributing columnist
“Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices Who, from our mother’s arms, has blest us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.” You may be familiar with this hymn, translated from the German by Catherine Winkworth. This wonderful hymn is so appropriate for Thanksgiving Day, which comes on the last Thursday of November.
I love to gather with family on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, green bean casserole and pie. Amidst all the turmoil of this world, we still have so much for which to be grateful, especially in the USA. A lot of folks (on the many football games happening) will share what they are thankful for.
I always challenge folks to remember who to give thanks TO. Give thanks to God: Almighty God: the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the entire universe: God from whom all blessings flow. Every good gift finally comes from the hand of God.
And just what has God given us? Every day, every hour, every minute, every night of rest, every loved one, every friend, every roof over our head, every stitch of clothing, every juicy hamburger, every crunchy apple, every flower, every colorful leaf, every mountain, every lake and river, every gorgeous sunset, every moonrise, every starry sky. You get the idea. If you go back far enough, finally everything comes from the hand of Almighty God.
So, let us always give thanks TO GOD. As Christians we become even more grateful when we consider that God has given us forgiveness, life and salvation as a free gift all through the death and resurrection of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. The Thanksgiving holiday happens once a year in the USA.
But for Christians, every month, indeed every day, is a Thanksgiving. We always live with an attitude of gratitude. Thanksgiving becomes Thanksliving.
“The tenth leper turning back.” The reformer Martin Luther was once asked, “What is true faith? Or what is true gratitude to God?” (You knew I would sneak a little Luther in here and I’m forgetting the exact question.) But Luther answered simply, “The tenth leper turning back.
” In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus is approached by 10 men suffering with leprosy and they cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests and on the way they are healed. “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.
He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and THANKED him. And he was a Samaritan.” Jesus then said to him, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Get up and go on your way; you faith has made you well.
” In the Bible, Jesus often lifted up foreigners, children, women and marginalized people as examples of great faith. Let us continually turn back to Jesus and give thanks to God, “Who, from our mother’s arms, has blest us on our way, with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”.
