Thanksgiving
Bro. Alan Morrison

Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new ever morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Someone once said, “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than homes. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” If anyone had the right to complain, it was the Pilgrims. But what did they do?

Are you really surprised to read that this article is about thankfulness? Most likely - not at all. In fact, you may wonder if it is worth reading. Or you may already be skimming in a wishful hope that something rare or brand new will pop off the screen. I guess another question could be asked, “Have you ever had turkey on Thanksgiving?” I have. In fact, a Thanksgiving without turkey would be a disappointment.

Here is the truth. We need to be reminded of spiritual things all the time. You would think that after years of having Thanksgiving we would have it down pat. We would be perfectly, thankful Christians. Very sadly though, on the last Thursday of November each year we say to ourselves, “I should be more thankful. I have so much, and I am not thankful enough for God’s blessings.”

 On the flip side, sometimes it is very hard to be thankful. Things get tough, life hurts, and sin scars. It is hard to see the good because of the bad. But here is the glorious, wonderful, magnificent, and amazing fact about the God we serve: His mercy and compassion is new every day! We have something new every day to thank God for. Today, I can say, “Thank You Father for your NEW mercy and compassion on my life today!” And tomorrow I can say, “Thank You Father for your NEW mercy and compassion on my life today!” God is so good!

Back to our text to tie this all together. The prophet Jeremiah is sitting in the middle of Jerusalem lamenting the destruction and captivity of Judah. The book of Lamentations is quite discouraging as Jeremiah describes the atrocities committed against the Jews. Yet, he says in verse 24 of this chapter, “The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” Jeremiah didn’t have turkey for thanksgiving, because He had God for his portion.

I wonder, could we have the tough, determined spirit of the Pilgrims to go through so much? Would we have the faith of Jeremiah to say, “I will hope in God”, when everyone and everything we love is destroyed. I really don’t know. I have never been there. This I do know. Today, His mercy and compassion was given to me in a fresh, new and real way unlike any day before. That I can be thankful for.