A Thanksgiving Challenge
The Bulletin, 11/19/25
With Thanksgiving right on our doorstep, it’s always a blessing to take some time to give thanks. My family’s tradition has long been to cut out paper leaves and have each attendee write what they’re thankful for and post it on the wall. Others go around the table and take turns naming things for which they want to give thanks before dishing out the turkey.
Whatever your tradition may be, I want to point you to a practice we see in the Psalms and challenge you to take your gratitude one step further this year.
The Psalmists repeatedly drew Israel’s attention back to God’s deliverance and wonders on their behalf in Egypt and the wilderness (Ps 78, 105, 106, 114, etc.). Of course, they celebrated those events at the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, but it was also part of their regular worship to sing these reminders to each other about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the bread from heaven, and more.
What they were doing was reminiscing about their national and familial stories as a way to point their hearts back to God in gratitude and wonder.
While it’s good to list things we’re thankful for, this year I challenge you to take some time to reminisce with family or friends for a while about God’s goodness in your lives.
For example, I recently called my family’s attention back to a difficult church situation we went through when I was just a small child. I don’t remember many details, but I know it was difficult on all of us. Yet, almost everything good I’ve enjoyed in my life occurred downstream from that challenging time. In hindsight, it is clear God’s hand was guiding us, and it was a blessing to reminisce with my parents and siblings about His goodness toward us.
Think of ways you can see how God has worked His great grace in the story of your lives. How did you or your parents or grandparents first come to Christ? How did God work in His providence to bring your family together? What were some major events in your lives in which God worked things together for your good?
Take some time to share your stories this year, and give thanks to the Father for His loving care. When we tell our stories, it helps us realize just how much God loves us and is there for us.
Notes
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