Humble Thanks
Thanksgiving sure did sneak up on us! For many Americans, this is a special holiday full of family, friends, food, and gratitude. For many, it’s the one reminder each year to slow down and reflect on the past year and to express gratitude from a place of humility. As I think about the act of saying “thank you”, whether it be to a relative, or to God, I’m drawn to the heart posture that goes into those words. Expressing gratitude, whether quickly at the check-out to someone helping you bag your groceries, or intentionally and tenderly to someone who sacrificed something of themselves for you or your family, requires humility… If even for a moment. It offers all of us the chance to step back and admit that the blessing that we just received wasn’t necessarily warranted. We are not entitled to anything in this life and every day… every breath… every hug… is a gift.
I want to encourage us this holiday season to take a risk (I hate to break it to you, but humility and transparency come with risk). Can we pause for a second, a minute, a moment to look back over the past year, and appreciate the graces that have brought us to this moment right now? Maybe some of us have experienced significant health challenges, pain, or loss. Maybe there have been moments in the past year where we wondered if making it to the holiday season was even possible. Our American dream understandings of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and “make your own success” often overlooks the importance of humility, vulnerability, and gratitude. I challenge all of us to, for a moment, shirk off our pride and take inventory of every person or action that has helped us get to where we are today. Can we take this risk to admit that we aren’t in full control? Can we take the risk to be grateful for what God has blessed us with?
As we take time to enter into a posture of gratitude and humility, let’s make sure to take time to also remember the legacy and stories of those who aren’t at our dinner tables this year, while also taking a moment to appreciate who is able to gather around our tables with us. We can also try asking ourselves the question of the psalmist: “Has the Lord forgotten to be kind to you?”
May this be a sweet season of gratitude and heart transformation for all of us! Happy Thanksgiving, friends. I’m glad you are here today.