Thanksgiving for all seasons"O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever," – Psalm 136:1These words calling us to be thankful are repeated often in the Psalms. They encourage us to keep a grateful attitude in our hearts and minds in all seasons of life. Psalm 136 recounts God’s activity as Creator, Savior and Sustainer from the time of Creation through much of Israel’s history. The phrase, His steadfast love endures forever, is repeated in each of the 26 verses. The repetition is a reminder of God’s gracious action, given out of that steadfast love is constant for all time and eternity. Our only proper response is to give thanks to the Lord.Thanksgiving Day is well established in our national life. Its historical roots reach into the time of the early 17th century Puritans who came from England to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Those Pilgrims would probably be shocked to see how hedonically we keep this holiday. It is not Thanksgiving for us without the parades, football, and overindulgence of turkey, mashed potatoes, squash, pumpkin pie and the agony in our over-filled stomachs. These early settlers may wonder where Divine Providence is in all this. Thanksgiving is a great time for many to be with family. It can also be a sad time for those who feel great losses and empty of giving thanks. Either way, in plenty or want, the kind of thanksgiving the Bible encourages us to hold can be distorted. The basis of thanksgiving does not rest on what we have or lack in terms of family, possessions, health, or any kind of worldly goods. The Bible clearly tells us the foundation of true thanksgiving is God. "O give thanks to the LORD for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever."A great hymn often sung at Thanksgiving is "Now Thank We All Our God" by Martin Rinkart. The first stanza is: Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices. Who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices; Who, from our mothers’ arms, Has blest us on our way. With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.Rinkart was a man who by the world’s standards had very little to be thankful for. He was a pastor in 17th century Germany. From 1617 until his death in 1649 he served faithfully in the walled city of Eilenburg. Many of those years were filled with great suffering and terrible hardships. He ministered among the people there during the Thirty Years’ War. Refugees came into Eilenburg for safety while the city was under siege. Because of overcrowding, famine and pestilence inflicted the population. Other clergy abandoned Eilenburg leaving Rinkart as the only pastor to minister to the city, sometimes preaching burial services for 40 or 50 persons in one day. The pestilence inflicted both his wife and himself. He survived but she did not. There were other acts of unselfish service he gave with great risks to his safety as he confronted the Swedish Army commanders on behalf of the city when they demanded tribute. For all his service, there was little gratitude shown to him by the city officials, and in his later years he was much harassed by them. He died of exhaustion on Dec. 8, 1649. Yet in all he endured, his life being focused upon God, Rinkart was inspired to write this powerful thanksgiving hymn.Thanksgiving is more than a celebration limited to a day. It is from a heart resting upon God in every moment of every day. God wants our thanksgiving not for God’s sake but for our benefit. An attitude of gratitude lightens our burdens in heavy times, keeps us focused upon the Source of all blessings in abundant times, and balanced in mind and spirit in all times. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you today and everyday!
