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Now that I’m almost half a century old, (I say that for laughs…but it’s true, Ugh!) I find myself saying a lot of things I used to think only old people say. Like, “Where has all the time gone? It was just Easter and now Christmas stares us in the face!”
I feel the stress that I should’ve already started my Christmas shopping. I just want to ask our culture to dial it back. I went into Michaels just under two weeks ago looking for some harvest decor for Thanksgiving. IT WAS ALL GONE. I kid you not. It was replaced with a winter wonderland.
I’ve noticed there has been a debate lately about how soon is too soon to decorate for Christmas. If you decorate too early, aren’t you messing up an appropriate celebration of Thanksgiving? This is the looming question on facebook – much of the discussion lighthearted.
I’ve gotta be honest, I’m definitely getting mixed messages. I was driving through town and saw the street lights being decorated for Christmas and then I passed a huge blow-up turkey and pumpkin in someone’s yard. Personally, that felt weird.
What’s the harm in celebrating and decorating for my favorite holiday – Christmas – early? That thought was running through my head while thinking of the way these holidays fall on our calendar and then a profound question replaced it.
How can one celebrate Christmas without Thanksgiving?
All celebration truly comes out of gratitude. Why? Gratitude is an outward expression with an intended recipient. Gratitude always has a place to go. It turns our thoughts outward, away from ourselves. In fact, think about it…thanksgiving shapes every holiday we celebrate.
Friend, we can miss it. We can fly through these upcoming special days of celebration without experiencing the fullness of each moment. I want to quickly ask you to consider your heart. Are you thankful? Would you say you feel a general sense of gratitude…not gratitude you plan to muster up on Thursday but on this ordinary Tuesday? Or are you filled with other emotions: anxiety, irritation, frustration, fear, guilt, indifference?
Where is your heart when it comes to gratitude? Let’s do a gratitude health test.
Today I want to talk about three conditions of gratitude.
Gratitude stifled
Gratitude misplaced
Gratitude complete
Is your gratitude stifled?
As we get ready to sit down to a delicious meal on Thursday, has your heart for thanksgiving been cunningly turned away?
We live in a culture that pushes entitlement. Did you know that entitlement and gratitude cannot coexist?
Entitlement and gratitude cannot coexist.
We’ve been told on many fronts that we are victims. Instead of addressing a heart of dissatisfaction we are encouraged to blame someone or something for the bad hand we’ve been dealt.
Conversely, a popular mantra of the day is that we have ourselves to thank for everything we enjoy or experience…that we can find all we need within ourselves. We are the captain of our own ship. We are all we need.
I’m sorry but this philosophy falls flat for me because I KNOW MYSELF. We can keep up that kind of mentality for only so long. Seems there’s more self-destructive talk than ever going on in peoples hearts today with no room left for thanksgiving.
Perhaps you’re saying, That’s NOT me. But could it be that that your gratitude is misplaced?
Maybe your gratitude is misplaced.
I am reminded of a passage in the Bible where Paul addresses the people of Athens. They had erected many many idols to worship. They considered themselves very intellectual and philosophical. They were pleased with the idols they worshiped. We do the same today. We build idols to which we express our gratitude: career, money, status, relationships, self-indulgence, materialism…I could go on. The point is. You won’t find a heart of gratitude in great Black Friday deals or anything else this world has to offer. Look at what Paul says to them.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.
18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”
19 Then they took him to the high council of the city.[a] “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.
24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. Acts 17:16-25
Gratitude misplaced is not gratitude at all. For many years I sought “THINGS” from God. I had the right address but the wrong heart. Then one day God spoke to me, “Tammy, you desire the gifts more than the Giver of the gifts. This can never satisfy.” And you know what? He was right.
Over the years, as I ask the tough questions about my requests of God, I seek to rightly relate to Him.
“God, help me to want you more than everything else. Help me to trust and walk with You. Help me to love and desire You more than the gifts You give.”
The outcome has been deeper joy and deeper understanding of my glorious God who gives me all things by giving me Himself. And my gratitude is complete.
Proverbs 10:22 says, The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Friend, it’s true!
Notice this verse doesn’t say, “the blessings” of the Lord. It says “the blessing.” God offers Himself to us. He offers care for us as His own. He covers us. He teaches us. He guides us. He walks with us.
Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh the joy of those who take refuge in Him.
When I was a little girl, I memorized and recited Psalm 100 at a school competition called Academic Day. I haven’t forgotten it. I think it would be fitting to meditate on this as our day of Thanksgiving approaches (perhaps you might memorize it too):
Psalm 100:1-5
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1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Let’s not miss the opportunity to truly express grateful hearts this week. Better yet, let’s seek to build thanksgiving into each and every day of the year. And, I pray for all of us to move beyond ourselves, having gratitude stifled; to move beyond gratitude misplaced in idols we build into our lives; and to truly experience a deep abiding relationship with the One who makes our gratitude complete.
