Thanksgiving in April? Why not! For many years, I’ve felt sad about our practice of celebrating Thanksgiving only in November. Are we thankful the rest of the year? I hope so! The Bible tells us to be thankful at all times in all things. Not always easy to do, I admit!

You’ll notice different reminders throughout this piece illustrating different ways we can express thanks. We can hug, shake hands, lift hands, write a note, open our mouth. For what should we be thankful? Start your own list (find plenty of paper!) God certainly deserves our thanks for all the general things He provides…life itself, material supplies, friendship, family, etc. How could anyone neglect thanking a perfect God for perfect gifts?

It’s often more difficult to say “thanks” to family and friends. Why? Maybe we’re embarrassed or uncomfortable. Perhaps we find it difficult to express our feelings. Another possibility is that we just get lazy and keep putting off the act of giving thanks. We intend to make that phone call, send that thank you note, order the delivery of that flower, etc. It’s also possible that we don’t recognize some of the things for which we should thank someone. We’d all agree (whether we actually follow through or not) that we should thank others for gifts we can touch, taste, feel, spend, etc. What about the flower picked from a garden as you leave a friend’s home? What about the encouraging phone call when you’re going through hard times? What about the “cup of cold water” that cost the thoughtful giver little, but quenched your thirst?

In an Ann Landers column a few years ago was a letter from a grandparent who never received any acknowledgment or thank you from their children or grandchildren as a result of regularly sending gifts on all occasions. Another letter mentioned the failure of newly-weds to even confirm the arrival of an expensive gift, much less thank the giver. Ann’s advice was that no more gifts be sent to anyone who failed to say thank you for previous gifts.

I’m writing this on the next to the last day of March. I remember an event that happened several years ago. Tim and Debbie brought Steve, Ben, and Rachael over one afternoon. I had a lot of wood that needed to find a new home. My grandkids helped load the wood into the back of their mom’s pickup truck. When they were through, I gave them each $5.00. They all hugged me and thanked me. Hours later, Ben called me on the phone to thank me again for the $5.00. How thoughtful!

I recall a specific incident years ago when I thanked someone for gently reprimanding me. My first reaction was to defend, deny, and retaliate. After thinking about it for a few minutes, I realized that they were absolutely right. I thanked them for, what was at the time, a painful experience. As I worked on changing the particular area in question, I experienced all kinds of growth and blessing.

Expressing specific thanks, whether to the Lord or others, is a character trait well worth cultivating. Is it inventory time in your life? It is in mine. Well, Happy Thanksgiving – in April and every day of the year! By the way, Pat and I thank each of you who help make our life and ministry fulfilling, enjoyable, and effective. We have lots of friends and family who pray for us, and correspond with us through E-mail and snail mail on a regular basis. People pray for our health, our vehicles, my counseling cases, our extended family, and many other unique things. Praise God and thank you!

• Expressing thanks to and for those who bless us is a character trait we’d all do well to cultivate!
• No blessing in our lives is too small for which to give thanks.
• Thanking even those who attempt to point out our flaws can have great benefit in the long run.
• It isn’t enough to just thank God for His mercies. It isn’t enough to thank God for the kindness of fellow human beings. We all appreciate hearing those magic words, “Thank You!”

Any and all feedback is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated!

Next Inside Out          Gallery              Previous Inside Out