Thanksgiving…It Does a Body Good!
By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will have come and gone, and you may still be feeling the effects of yesterday's feast. Of course, when I say Thanksgiving, I mean by that the holiday, which is the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving Day is behind us, but thanks-giving itself should continue, not just for this season, but all the year 'round.
I do love Thanksgiving, and giving thanks too. It's such an important part of the Christian life, and one of the key markers of a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. But why is it so important that we give thanks? Let me offer you several reasons.
For one, God tells us to do so, and when we don't, we're being disobedient to His word and to His will. The Psalms are full of calls to "Give thanks to the Lord." The apostle Paul also wrote in Ephesians 5:20 that we are to "give thanks always for all things," which doesn't leave a lot of room for not being thankful. And, as the verse we read in Sunday's message said so succinctly, "In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18)
We also give thanks because we have so much to be thankful for. Yes, sometimes things don't always go our way, and we don't always get what we want. And it's easy in times like those to focus more on the negative than the positive, especially when the world around us is doing it. But we are still called to count our blessings and be thankful.
Thanksgiving combats discontentment, and sets us as Christians apart from a whining, complaining world. (Philippians 2:14-15) And the truth is, we are blessed far beyond what we ever deserve. If you're reading this, I assume that means you are breathing, which means you're still alive. It also presumes you learned to read, which means you have the privilege of education. And since this ePistle is distributed via electronic mail and social media, if you are reading it that means you have access to modern conveniences like electricity, the internet and a smart phone. Not to mention, that you probably have food to eat and a roof over your head.
Another reason we give thanks is because it shapes our perspective in a positive way. The act of giving thanks itself will change how you see life, which is one of the reasons why God was wise enough to command us to do it. Some might ask, "What if I'm not really thankful?" Or, "What if I don't feel grateful?" Well, the Bible tells us to say "thank you" anyway. The act will produce the feeling--eventually--and even more so, practicing thanksgiving as a way of life will create a much more positive mindset in every area of our lives.
But here's the bonus reason, and I picked this up listening to a bunch of health and fitness podcasts while I work out at the gym. Did you know that giving thanks is good for your health? And there's plenty of science to back that up. A Harvard Health study, published just last year in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), determined that you have a 9% lower risk of dying over any three-year span if you practice gratitude as a way of life. Practicing thanksgiving also has been proven to increase emotional and social well-being, lower depression rates, and lead to better sleep quality and favorable markers of cardiovascular health. The studies also showed that an attitude of gratitude has a positive effect on blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol levels and cognitive function.
In other words, taking "Vitamin G," as one podcaster calls gratitude, is right up there with a healthy diet of whole foods, regular exercise, and good sleep as a contributor to good health. Thanksgiving....it does a body good!
So even if all that is left from yesterday's holiday is a bunch of leftovers, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate thanks-giving again today, and tomorrow...and every day of the year. So happy Thanksgiving to you!
And while I'm at it, let me say one more time how thankful I am for the privilege of serving you, and serving with you, as your pastor. I am grateful for The Church at Shelby Crossings, and for the work the Lord continues to do in the life of our fellowship.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
