Sleepy Thanksgiving Thoughts

My sister-in-law, Jessica (aka Martha Stewart) made adorable leaf sugar cookies in cellophane baggies to go at each place setting for Thanksgiving (should I mention she’s hosting over 25 people?). Attached to each bag is the simple text “In Everything, Give Thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Lying in bed this morning, enjoying a rare chance to sleep in while my mom watched the boys, I got to thinking about that text.

“In Everything Give Thanks.”

In. Not after, not once I look back, not once things are all hunky dory, but In. In the midst of everything. Waiting for my house to close, not sure what’s happening with my job, In the midst of this, give thanks. Don’t wait. Do it In.

Everything. Really God, Everything? When I’m exhausted and my baby is in a mommy phase and no one else can take him so I can’t go anywhere alone – everything? What about Adam’s coworker’s son who isn’t even 3 and had major spinal surgery? What about that my brother and sister-in-law’s cat got killed yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving? That’s where the first word comes back into play. We don’t give thanks “For Everything”, we give thanks “In Everything.” Everything.

Give. Giving thanks isn’t about me. It’s about God, it’s about others. It’s a completely selfless act. I don’t keep anything for myself. When I give thanks I recognize that I don’t deserve what I have, I just appreciate. I Give.

Thanks. Total appreciation. A simple word that just says I am unworthy, but God has given me all I need. I can do nothing to deserve what God has given in God’s Grace. And all I can say is Thanks.

In Everything, Give Thanks.