Today is Thanksgiving Day. It seems strange to me sometimes because every November American gets two days off from work and we are supposed to be celebrating blessing, but we do anything but that. It is almost like an invented holiday that should mean something special and can, but for many people it doesn’t.
When I was in elementary school, we were taught that it was a special meal between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. However, I now know that if it did happen, it didn’t happen like that. Most Pilgrams and Native Americans were afraid of each other because the invader were coming into the Native Americans territory and killing them so that they could take their land. If there was a meal it was a very isolated incident and the usual food that we even eat now wasn’t eaten, then.
I do think that this holiday could mean something special. It is in the name Thanksgiving. It is a day to give thanks. The one thing I realize over and over again is that as human beings, we aren’t thankful enough to the Deity who created us. There are lots of people today who claim to be Christians that are going to overeat and spend the weekend shopping for things they don’t need only things they want. They aren’t going to give a thought to anyone around them and they aren’t going to think about the lessons in the Bible.
Recently, I have been studying the Bible to help me write a horror novel. I often turn to the Bible when I write. It might seem strange because I write horror and because I am not a big Bible person. Yet it is a great book of spiritual truth and stories. This one book has changed the course of history for over two thousand years. If I write about humanity, I cannot ignore it. The lesson that continually arises over and over again is knowing God and being thankful. I don’t know if God actually rained manna down from Heaven or not, but it doesn’t matter. The story is about trusting in God for all you need and being thankful for being given all your need.
I have been having a crisis in my own life because I made a change to following a calling. I don’t know if I will succeed or fail. That has made me question my decision several times. However, the other day I realized that all I need to do is trust in God, He has always given me everything I need. I have spent several years following His direction now. I know that if I just continue to follow, He will show me the path and give me everything I need. I just need to have faith.
The best part is that my life is better whether I succeed or fail. I feel like my eyes are opening up to His world. I feel like a see the world better because of Him. After the presidential election, I felt like everything was awful. Then, yesterday, I went shopping. As I checked out, I barely looked at the clerk. I never like making eye contact with anyone. However, after the transaction was done, I stopped and I looked at her name tag: Pauline. It reminded me of the Pauline sisters. I thanked her for helping me and told her that I thought she had a pretty name. I don’t know if she cared or if it made a difference in her day at all. It made a difference in mine. For just a moment, I saw one of God’s children and I was so thankful that I noticed her and saw her.
My journey, no matter if I succeed or fail, is helping me to see this world and be thankful for it as much as I can. I realize now more than ever how much I don’t know and how very little I understand how much I should be thankful for God and the universe that He created for us. I hope that I continue to see His world and grow in gratitude for all He has done for all of us.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
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