Thanksgiving

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Sorry I'm posting this so close to the last post, I try not to post too often but I think this is a good topic to discuss. So Thanksgiving is today, and it got me thinking about what that means. Thanksgiving is comprised of two words; thanks and giving. If you flip the order, you get "giving thanks". Thanksgiving is a time for us to give thanks for the things we have. People always look at the things that they don't have, but this is a time where we can be thankful for the things we do have. Sometimes we focus way too much on the things that we don't have, when we actually have a lot. If you look at your life and what you have, you find that you have more than you first thought, especially compared to other people in the world. The fact that you have a computer and internet to be reading this is a pretty good indication that you are pretty well off. If you remember back to my previous posts, you may remember me saying that material things are meaningless. Right now it may sound as if I am contradicting myself, but I'm trying not too. Things eventually will fade away, so you might as well be thankful that you have them now. Material things can be taken away in a heartbeat, so it might be worthwhile appreciating things while you still have them. Also, Thanksgiving is not a time for getting more material things, but a time to give thanks for what you have. Be thankful for what you have. Thanksgiving goes beyond just material things, but other things you have in your life that you might not recognize. If you have someone special in your life, be thankful for that person. If you are healthy, be thankful for that. If you have a loving family, be thankful. If you have a job, be thankful. If you are going to a school, be thankful. Give thanks for the person that you are. Give thanks for the people in your life, and the relationships that you have. I am convinced that no matter your situation, there is something you can be thankful for, whether material things or not. Take some time today (and everyday) and just begin to give thanks for what you have in your life.
-Smart