11-21-16<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving approacheth.<\/p>\n
Oh, good! (or, \u201cOh, no!\u201d) \u2013 Turkey. Trimmings. Leftovers. Football games. Black Friday sales. Take down the Indian corn and gold-and-orange decorations quickly, and put up pine wreaths and red-and-green.<\/p>\n
I wonder, and I hope, about the number of people who remember the \u201creal\u201d origin of the holiday. Not the Pilgrims and Indians in casting-call costumes\u2026 but remembering our blessings and their Source. <\/p>\n
I am wondering about a couple other things this season. As in past years, I note how few people say \u201cYou\u2019re Welcome\u201d anymore. Have you noticed? Take a survey \u2013 listen to interviews on TV, or how store clerks respond. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome\u201d is an endangered phrase.<\/p>\n
Notice, it has been replaced by \u201cNo problem,\u201d or \u201cNo prob.\u201d Or \u201cSure thing.\u201d Or \u201cYou betcha.\u201d Or \u201cThank YOU.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curious.<\/p>\n
This is not a moral failure; just a conversational tic of the sort that enters the language. Similar to so many people larding their sentences with \u201cy\u2019know,\u201d or beginning conversations with \u201cSo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
But I have a serious thought whose way-stations are observations like this.<\/p>\n
The first American Thanksgiving celebration was organized specifically to give thanks to God for bountiful harvests, safety, and peace with neighbors and environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord\u2026\u201d So reads the ancient liturgy preceding the Sanctus.<\/p>\n
We give thanks to the Lord, for it is good; we present offerings; we make joyful noise unto the Lord.<\/p>\n
It has occurred to me that God covets our thanks, because it shows our hearts are mindful of His many blessings, and this is proper. But have you ever thought that sometimes we should say \u201cYou\u2019re Welcome\u201d to God?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re Welcome, God\u201d???<\/p>\n
When we think on this, we better appreciate the unique relationship God has \u2013 and wants \u2013 with us: He does<\/em> thank us. Often. Humble servants that we are. He thanks us abundantly.<\/p>\n When you receive answers to prayer, the sovereign Lord is also thanking you for faithfulness.<\/p>\n When you are blessed, it is a Thank You from God for seeking His face, and praying earnestly.<\/p>\n When a loved one is healed, or saved, or in some way moved, it may also be in some small way God thanking you for having faith, witnessing, sharing Christ.<\/p>\n Like prayer itself, Thanks is not a one-way street. God honors our faith; the Bible reassures us of this many times. And what is that except a \u201cThank You\u201d from the Lord of Creation? Can that humble us?… but remind us, too, of how we are loved.<\/p>\n \u201cFor God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.\u201d Back to football! \u2013 these are the words of the \u201cJohn 3:16\u201d signs you see in the stands. <\/p>\n Some people like to refer to Jesus\u2019 birth as God\u2019s Christmas present to humankind. Yes. But we also can see Jesus \u2013 God in the flesh to dwell among us \u2013 as God\u2019s Thank-You note. The best Thank-You note possible\u2026 while we were yet undeserving. But He thanks His children who have open hearts and pure spirits. <\/p>\n When you pray, pray literally: \u201cYou\u2019re welcome, Lord: You are welcome in my heart.\u201d <\/p>\n + + + <\/p>\n