One Christmas, many years ago, I received a very special gift. As I was preparing for four years at Virginia Tech, I opened a package that contained a beautiful orange and maroon comforter with cross-stitched university symbols sewn into it. My parents and siblings had worked on this project secretly for several months and I was pleasantly surprised. I toted that love-spun blanket back and forth throughout those college years and it kept me warm and cozy numerous cold nights in Blacksburg.
Many times the sight of that cover prompted me to think of those who worked on it. I thought of my mom selecting, cutting, and arranging the squares to produce a beautiful design. I thought of my dad and my brother sitting around the quilt frames tying knots and joking. I thought of my sister spending countless hours cross-stitching the Fighting Gobbler and University Seal. While the comforter warmed me physically, those reminders warmed me emotionally.
This is but one of many gifts I have received over the years. My home and office are filled with items given to me by friends, family, students, and church members. It’s difficult to look much of anywhere without seeing something somebody gave me.
Oftentimes, as I glance at these items, they remind me of the ones who gave them and it causes me to be thankful all over again. Admittedly, this is not always the case as I sometimes take them for granted while in other cases, too much time has passed, and I have simply forgotten who the givers were. To prevent this, I have started writing the giver’s name on the item or penciling notes to aid my imperfect memory. Either way, it is encouraging to know that someone thought of me and cared enough to put time, effort, and money into a gift.
I dare say that most readers also have furniture or paintings, jewelry or firearms, clothing or books, or other items that were given to them by others. To see or use these gifts is often to remember those who gave them. Too often, however, we grow accustomed to our surroundings and fail to remember and be grateful.
How much more should the gracious gifts of life, creation, friends, family, and freedom cause us to thank the One who gave them all to us. Each of these has been directly provided by the greatest Giver of all. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God and 1 Timothy 6:17 reminds us that God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
The food we eat, the air we breathe, and the love we feel are also generous provisions of the Almighty. Even though the early pilgrims and settlers had far less materially than we do, they clearly realized this great truth and set aside a special day to do nothing but thank God for His generosity.
All these years later, we continue to observe Thanksgiving. It should not, however, be a one-day event, but rather a constant attitude of gratefulness each time we use or recognize one of God’s gifts. Whenever we behold the mountains, hear a wren, or smell an apple pie, we should praise the One behind them all. Sadly, we often take our blessings for granted and fail to extend the proper appreciation and worship to our great provider.
Ultimately, it is love that prompts the giving of most gifts. It was my family’s love that motivated them to spend many hours on my comforter. It was the love of many that has furnished my life with rich blessings. And so too John 3:16 clearly states it was God’s love that motivated Him to give us His greatest gifts of forgiveness and eternal life through the death and resurrection of His Son. We would be seriously remiss to not thank and honor Him for His generosity for any of His gifts, but especially for these that surpasses all the others.
As we glance around at all the abundant blessings we enjoy this Thanksgiving, let us remember the One who has given them to us and praise Him for it. May we recognize His generous heart of love and return some of our own to Him.
Happy Thanksgiving, George