"It is good to give thanks to the Lord."

Psalm 92:1

Thanksgiving isn't just about being thankful.

No, it is about giving thanks to the One from whom these things come!

Back in 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave the famous Thanksgiving Proclamation. As one person wrote "You know, the one where he said that, despite the ravages of the Civil War, we should be grateful for those killer sales that soon will usher in a glorious holiday shopping season and kick-start the lagging economy." Ok, he didn't say that. That is a modern interpretation.

Lincoln's proclamation listed all the things for which Americans should give thanks to God, barely mentioning the civil war that was going on at the time. Instead, he spoke of blessings he said "are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the SOURCE from which they come …"

This past month, my friend, Debbie, gave me this book. I have been reading a page of it every day. I have been so blessed! The author writes "Giving thanks to God is a good thing, and we have so many things to be thankful for, don't we? The list is truly endless. And yet so often, just like you, I can get side tracked by the fast pace of everyday life or bogged down by the struggles I face, that I forget to stop and give thanks to God who has blessed me beyond measure."

This book has encouraged me to thank Him for all things. Have you ever given thanks for the person who picked the tea leaves so you could savor the flavor of your favorite brew (or in my case, the person who picks coffee beans! (yay Starbucks coffee pickers!) - or what about thanking Him for the factory worker who paints the pretty design on your pretty teacups? It is so easy to take people for granted. So thank Him for the people He has put into your life - those you know well, and those you don't.

Thank Him for the 5 senses He gave you. The touch of textiles, the taste of pumpkin pie, sounds of music and laughter, watching a sunset, the smell of homebaked bread.

Thank Him for His Word that teaches us His will and His way, that counsels us and strengthens us. For the joy He brings to us despite circumstances. His comfort when we are hurting. That He listens to our cry.