Thanksgiving: A Time for Gratitude and Sharing

This week, Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving, a national holiday proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. On this day, we eat and stress too much. However, deep down, we know we should be grateful for what we have.

This occasion expresses gratitude for the blessings we have enjoyed throughout the year.

Instead of asking the typical question, “What are you thankful for?”, I have a different question.

Why does God bless us?

Every year, while flying over the Gulf of Mexico on a United jet, heading home from Nicaragua, I would wrestle with this question. My destination was the impoverished neighborhoods of Managua, where I would assess a program that provided food for children.

I would visit homes made of salvaged tin from the dump, standing on bare earth. Outside the doors, sewer water would flow into the rutted dirt road. I would bathe in cold water and sleep on dirty sheets.

It was clear that this was vastly different from my home in the United States.

Why are we so blessed? I live in a country with an imperfect government, but still better than most others. This week, we will consume more food than many families have in a year. We have access to hot water, clean beds, and air-conditioned homes.

Why has God blessed us in this way?

Moses had to explain the same to the Israelites, who were about to inherit a land they did not cultivate and live in houses they did not build.

Why did God bless them?

The Lord did not choose them or bless them because they were numerous or superior to other peoples. In fact, they were the fewest of all. But it was because the Lord loved them and fulfilled the oath made to their ancestors. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt with great power and redeemed them. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

Blessings come from grace, not because of our merit. They are never owned, only bestowed.

However, this still doesn’t answer my question. Why does God bless us?

My only answer is that God blesses us to allow us to bless others. Blessings come with responsibility, as we are stewards of God’s good gifts.

If we have been blessed, we must share those blessings with others.

The problem is that it is easy to turn this into a materialistic exercise. True blessing comes from recognizing the love and care behind the gift.

So, if you are blessed, what will you do with your blessings?

There are people in need. Some mothers this Christmas could use a break. Can you spare an hour or two to babysit?

Others feel isolated and alone. They have no one to listen to them. Take a moment to put away your phone and your own concerns and simply listen… just listen. Very few people experience someone truly listening to them.

Visit those who are alone. Many reside in assisted living centers or rehab centers, spending their days lying in bed and staring out of windows. A visitor can break the monotony and show them that they are not forgotten.

Wherever you find yourself, ask yourself, “How has God blessed me so that I can bless this person?” Then, take action.

There is a beautiful story that illustrates what love means. Rebecca, an eight-year-old, said, “When my grandmother got arthritis and couldn’t bend over to paint her toenails, my grandfather started doing it for her, even when his own hands got arthritis too.” Billy, a four-year-old, said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Isn’t that a wonderful way to describe it?

Both descriptions capture the essence of blessing. But they also describe how one can be blessed.

When you find yourself blessed, find someone to share those blessings with. In doing so, you will experience double the blessings.