a lifetime of thanks is not enough...

last night, we were blessed to be a part of our church's thanksgiving eve service. i did not grow up with this tradition, but over the last couple of years, i have loved gathering with family and friends to worship God and to remember Why we are thankful on the eve of this thanks-centered holiday. after a few hymns and a "thanksgiving" message, people are welcome to share why they are thankful, and then at the conclusion of the service, we all gather for a pumpkin pie fellowship. last year was my first time to be a part of this service, and i will never forget kristie expressing her thanks for our family and, through her tears of joy, praising God for the birth of newborn caroline.

this year, i did not get to hear everyone share their reasons for thanksgiving because our two little blessings wanted to check out the desserts in the fellowship hall a little early (translate: caroline was a squirmy worm through the sermon), but before we scooted out, we participated in a responsive reading geared toward thanksgiving. as the congregation was reading the provided passages from psalm 103-105, i was absolutely struck in the middle of the reading by these words (psalm 103:8-12)...

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

though the responsive reading continued, i kept thinking about these words...

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities...

wow. that really hits the thanksgiving nail on the head. i can think of no greater reason to be thankful today. yes, i am thankful for my husband and children and for every member of our extended family. i am thankful for the physical blessings that God has provided, such as our home, cars to drive, clothes to wear, and food to eat. i am thankful to be an American. the list could go on and on. those are typical blessings that will be remembered today as families gather around an oversized turkey and pumpkin pie. but if my thanks-givings only include the things of this earth, i might as well not even begin to give thanks.

i can only give thanks to the One Who gives grace when i deserve punishment. i can only give thanks to the One Who is abounding in His great love for us. so on this thanksgiving day, i pray that your thanks will be given to God, for He is surely worthy of all of our praise.

i'll close with the final verse of a wonderful hymn of thanksgiving... we sang this last night, and i'm sure i'll be humming it all day long!

Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.