A professional football team was practicing when a large turkey strutted onto the field. While they all gazed in amazement, the turkey caught pass after pass and ran right through the defensive line. The coach offered him a signing bonus on the spot.
"Forget the bonus," the turkey said, "All I want to know is, does the season go past Thanksgiving Day?"
We are in the season of thanksgiving, and in the U. S., this season is celebrated in November and merges into Christmas shopping. So much to be thankful for! But what keeps us from the true attitude of grace and thanksgiving?
鈥淚 believe in the sun even when it isn't shining.
鈥淚 believe in love even when I do not feel it.
鈥淚 believe in God even when He is silent.鈥�
These words were found scrawled on a cellar wall where Jews had hidden during the Second World War in Cologne, Germany. In the very midst of the horror of war, someone declared his faith in a God who does not always answer us as we wish.
Living a life of gratitude for all God鈥檚 blessings may take effort and faith. At times we are not up for the challenge, given our tendency to see negative situations around us. But it is up to us!
鈥淭he fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves鈥� (Shakespeare鈥檚 Julius Caesar I, ii, 140).
What keeps us from striving for the gold? Why are we not the best we can be? Our role in the Kingdom is one that no one else can do. No one else is in our place and no one else can do what we can do, with God鈥檚 Grace.
Methodist John Wesley shared this philosophy:
鈥淢ake all you can
鈥淪ave all you can
鈥淕ive all you can.鈥�
Wesley made over $30 million in his lifetime but died with nothing. You could say there was a method to his life plan.
In The Blessing of Unanswered Prayers by an Unknown Confederate soldier, we hear these thoughts:
鈥淚 asked for strength that I might achieve;
鈥淚 was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
鈥淚 asked for health that I might do greater things;
鈥淚 was given infirmity that I might do better things.
鈥淚 asked for riches that I might be happy;
鈥淚 was given poverty that I might be wise.
鈥淚 asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
鈥淚 was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
鈥淚 asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
鈥淚 was given life that I might enjoy all things.
鈥淒aniels column I got nothing that I had asked for,
鈥淏ut everything that I had hoped for.
鈥淎lmost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
鈥淚 am, among all men, most richly blessed.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If we walk in God鈥檚 love and Grace, it is hard not to be grateful. If we use our senses to enjoy the Creator鈥檚 gifts, then:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Every day we can drink life鈥檚 wine.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And every day we can feel fine.
