In the USA, today is the day after the national day of giving thanks – Thanksgiving. It was the day that President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 set aside for this nation to celebrate its thankfulness to God. It was to be celebrated annually on the last Thursday of the month of November. Today it continues to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November to foster a sense of unity and gratitude during a very difficult time of history. 

Thanksgiving is a celebration that had its start in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 after a harsh winter and lots of loss. This first Thanksgiving was inspired by the Biblical holiday of Sukkot, or The Feast of Tabernacles. Around 90 Wampanoag Indian warriors joined 53 surviving Pilgrims.

Thankfulness is an attitude of the heart. The Bible reminds us to give thanks in everything (I Thessalonians 5:18). The actual Greek meaning of this phrase is to have a thankful heart. But why?

Because thankfulness begets thankfulness; it’s contagious. Someone rightly stated if we lose our thankfulness to God our focus will become on what we feel God is not doing for us. Wow, that’s unsettling. 

Giving thanks lightens our heart. It helps us to keep our focus on what God IS doing in our lives. And if we’re serious about giving thanks every day and not just Thanksgiving, we’ll become a contagion of thankfulness. 

Further, thankfulness reduces stress, increases happiness, improves our mood by increasing dopamine and serotonin in our brains, it builds resilience, and even enhances our relationships. 

Let’s be encouraged to practice a spirit of thankfulness each and every day of our lives!

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1