Faith & Insight: An attitude of thankfulness

I love Thanksgiving. I’m thankful that I was raised in a family that celebrated Thanksgiving with large family gatherings, lots of turkey and dressing, Nana’s rolls, and fun with siblings and cousins. It was a holiday about family and food. I have wonderful memories of those years.

As years passed, things changed, still a special holiday, but different. I remember one year it wasn’t so special. I think it was 1968, I was in the Air Force stationed in Kansas City, Mo., far away from family. I went to a crummy buffet off-base for a Thanksgiving meal — not many people there, but a few. It just didn’t seem right. The one good thing about that day was my wife, Peggy, was there, too.

It was about two years later that I opened by heart and life to the Lordship of Jesus, and things began to change in many ways. For one, Thanksgiving became more than a holiday; it became an attitude of heart and life.

I began to be thankful to God, for God, for him and his workings in my life and new family. As I read and became more familiar with the Bible, I discovered the ‘Thanksgiving’ theme that flowed throughout both the Old and New testaments.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever — Psalm 30:12

Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106:1

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come — Rev 11:17

Will you join me in welcoming a new ‘heart of Thanksgiving’ this season, an attitude of heart and life which will bring refreshing and thankfulness in everything?

Yes, Thanksgiving is more than a holiday, it’s an attitude of thankfulness to God that can be experienced and expressed every day.

Louie Locke is the pastor of Fountainhead Foursquare Church, 3690 Highway 395, Carson City, www.ffcwired.org.