Sharing Your Gratitude with Others-Pastor David Tsai

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.                                                                                                  Ephesians 1:3-5

​Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon the role of gratitude in our lives so that we might be ready to overflow with thanks on this special day. But, for many of us, Thanksgiving Day is so filled with activity that it’s hard to stop for a few moments of intentional gratitude.
Nevertheless, I would encourage you to, at some point during what might be a busy holiday, set aside at least ten minutes to intentionally thank God for God’s manifold grace in your life. If you haven’t found time during the daylight for such a thing, perhaps you could end your day by thanking God right before falling asleep.
I encourage you to develop two more practices to enrich your Thanksgiving celebration. The first is inspired by the example of the Apostle Paul. In the opening of his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells them that he thanks God for them and why. Paul’s prayer is not some hackneyed, empty prayer. Rather, he tells his readers precisely why he is thankful for them: “Because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people … that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:4-5).
Perhaps you could do something like this today. As you thank the Lord for the people in your life, consider telling at least one of them that you have done so. Maybe you could do this during your Thanksgiving gathering, or through a phone or Zoom call. You might drop someone a note, an email, or even a quick text. Something that seems so easy can make a big difference to the recipient . . . as well as to the sender.
In addition to telling people you are thankful to God for them, you might also intentionally thank people directly. Of course, it’s always a good idea to thank the people who make and serve your Thanksgiving dinner. But look for other opportunities as well. If you see someone at dinner who has made a difference in your life, tell them so and say, “Thank you.” I am regularly amazed at how expressing gratitude can make such a difference in relationships, as well as in my heart.
When you’re out and about at this time of year, whether picking up some last-minute items in the grocery store or flying across the country, be especially aware of those working rather than enjoying a holiday weekend. A simple “Thank you for working today” can gladden the hearts of people who are usually taken for granted. Of course, there’s no reason to stop thanking people when the official Thanksgiving holiday is over. Making efforts to say “Thank you” to folks “out there” could be a wonderful Advent practice.
I want to let you know how grateful I am to God for you. I’ve been at FECC for 5 ½ years now. Your love and service to the Lord and your loving care for me are a big part of what keeps me going. I’m also thankful to those of you who support our church financially. You are quite literally keeping our work going. Plus, I’m grateful for the opportunity to study God’s Word and share with you what I discover there. So, my sisters and brothers, thank you for being you. I am truly grateful for you!
Once again . . . with a heart full of gratitude, I wish you all a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving.