The gift of thankfulness

Like many of you, this is a very busy time of the year for me. In addition to Christmas shopping and preparing for the festivities of the season I've been very busy with a lot of ministry activities. I sent in my DMin thesis proposal this week and hope to hear soon that I can proceed with that project. I have a class the first week of January with six textbooks that I'm trying to read. Campbellsville University asked me to join some other folks in reviewing nearly 100 applications for a leadership scholarship they offer incoming students. Just as I concluded that task I received the author's proofs for my next book with a request that I review them and make any changes by December 29. This will be the last chance to get everything right before the book goes to the printer. Tonight I'm meeting with the leadership of a conflicted church in an effort to help them through this difficult time.

This morning I wrote out checks for some bills and set them aside to take to the mail box later. As I turned to my next task I suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Like most average Americans 2008 has been financially challenging for us. Our retirement accounts have taken about a 30% loss this year. My wife and I have drastically cut our spending trying to pay down some debt. We look for bargains when we do shop, and we're trying to make things last just a little bit longer before replacing them.

But as I thought about the checks I had just written I also thought about the thousands of people who have lost their jobs this year. I thought about the thousands whose homes have been lost in foreclosure and the many who have filed bankruptcy. Our bills are paid, we have a warm house in which to live, and a full pantry of food. I placed those bills in front of me, laid my hands on them, and just thanked God for His blessings.

Yesterday I was loading the dishwasher and running some water in the sink to rinse off some dishes. As I looked at that water I thought about the people all over the world who spend part of each day trying to find clean water to drink and often cannot. I was using more water rinsing off those dishes than some people have to use all day. It nearly overwhelmed me, and I stopped and gave God thanks for allowing me the privilege of being born in a country with clean, fresh water, a country that permits me to worship as I choose, and a country that allows me to do just about anything with my life that I want to.

As you run around this last week before Christmas trying to find the right gift for someone, I encourage you to stop and think about all the ways in which your life has been blessed. Perhaps the most important gift we could give this year would be the gift of thankfulness to God. I know I don't pause often enough to just thank Him for the blessings I have come to take for granted. The gift of thankfulness won't cost you anything to give, but I do believe it would please God to receive it.

May you have a very blessed Christmas!