A Thanksgiving Letter

 

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

 

I Timothy 4:4-5

 

 

 

Dear Readers,

Thanksgiving is a day in which all of us should reflect upon and be thankful for all that God has given us.  Each and every one of us has so many things to be thankful for.

Every year, beginning in November, I have noticed people posting each day on Facebook things that they are grateful and thankful for. Here I would like to submit for the reader, albeit late, my Thanksgiving list.

I am thankful for:

• God, who has created me, for without Him, I wouldn’t be.
• Jesus, who died for me, so that I may be forgiven of my sins.
• The Holy Spirit, who came and convicted me of my sins, who made me realize what a wretched sinner I really am.
• For my wife Kathie, who has stood beside me through thick and thin, through better and worse, through richer and poorer. She has been my rock.
• My dad, who is my hero. If I could only be one half the man he is, I would be blessed.
• My mom, who I miss everyday. Although she is gone from this world, I see her in the many things that I still do.
• My daughter Katherine, who has made me so proud to be called ‘dad.’
• My grand-daughter Scarlet, who brings unspeakable joy to my heart.
• My cat, Sylvester.
• My friends, although few in number, they are great in spirit.
• Drs. Welch and Gehlbach, who took so good care of me during my vision lost. Dr. Welch, who is a second father to me. He has watched over my vision since I was just two years of age.
• My restored vision. It’s scary to watch as your vision slowly deteriorates. I am so glad to have it back, and it is something that should never, ever be taken for granted.
• Having a roof over my head, food on my table, clean water to drink, a climate controlled interior and a means of transportation.

And the list could go on and on.

There are so many things that I am thankful for; both good and bad. Twice I had to watch a beloved pet take their last breath, and as hard as that was, I am thankful for the experience. I have lost my vision on several occasions in the past two years, and as terrible as that seemed to be, I still gave thanks to God everyday. I have lost a mother, aunts and cousins, but I am still thankful.

The Bible tells us that “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). Not only should you be thankful for the good things in life, but also give thanks for the bad things. You may not like bad things happening, but you should be thankful for them – for the experience of them. Look for the lessons that God may be teaching you during the bad times, and be thankful for them.

Thanksgiving Day is a day of plenitude; a cornucopia of food and drink. But it also needs to be a day of thanksgiving; a day of gratitude to our Lord God for all that He has given us.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours, and God bless.

Kenneth, Kathie and Sylvester (our cat).