But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal
procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the
knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
It is well over thirty years ago now…My cousin Mark Northrup was a
cashier at a local grocery store in Abilene, TX. One afternoon, a customer came to his
register asking for a return on an unopened can of PET Evaporated Milk. Before issuing the customer a refund for the
product, Mark asked the individual the reason for the return. The customer replied: “Well, it seems to
be…evaporated.” Thinking his customer to
be clever, Mark took up the can and looked at the label. It said right there: ‘Pet Evaporated
Milk.’ However, upon holding the can in
his hand for a moment, Mark realized the customer was not kidding. The can, still sealed from the factory…was
empty. Obviously, it had somehow missed
being filled before having had the seal applied to the top at the factory. Still, it was a study in unmet expectation
simply because it was not as it was supposed to be…even if appropriately
labeled. “Evaporated Milk.”
I had a similar reaction the morning of
November 1st this year. I had
gotten out of bed following the ‘Trunk or Treat’ on the evening before and
turned on the television while fixing my breakfast. The morning news cast went to a commercial
break and it seemed every commercial was wishing me a “Happy Holiday Season”
with Christmas lights, decorated trees, and people decked out for
Christmas! The effect on me was
instant. It was like Thanksgiving had
somehow EVAPORATED! As far as the world
was concerned, were we just going to leap right over it, and get the shopping
season started…even before Black Friday?
Was Thanksgiving really gone?
Well, obviously the answer is “No.”
Thanksgiving hasn’t left the calendar.
It’s still going to be November 28th. Millions of turkeys will be prepared and
plenty of dressing will be there for all.
I think it important though, for us to
be aware of the increasingly secularized society that we live in. This world does not share our heart of
Thanksgiving. It does not resonate with
the historic plight of the Pilgrim in search of religious freedom. It may well not care that the survivors of
that first hard winter in the northeast had shared a great feast with Native
Americans in Thanksgiving to the God who had preserved them into a new life in
this strange new land.
But, you and I do.
So, I suggest that the real question
for us is not whether Thanksgiving has evaporated in the hearts of the
world. Rather, does it remain in the
hearts of the believers? The holiday
will most likely endure. The turkey farmers will see to that… But the spirit
and message that is its origin live in the hearts and lives of those who
remember WHY it is observed. I petition
you therefore to make every effort to not only celebrate the reunion of family,
fine cooking, and abundant feasts, but to be thankful. Make certain that the spirit of Thanksgiving
is alive and well in you. Tell those you
encounter why you are thankful for THEM.
Tell them why you are thankful for the presence of a wonderful God in
your life. Tell them from what cold
Winter God has brought you, and how you are now living in an energizing
spiritual Springtime. Do not merely
observe Thanksgiving. LIVE and BE
Thanksgiving.
Scripture to claim:
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will
constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are
helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt
his name together.”
(NLT version)
Almighty God, Have I forgotten
to give thanks? You have been so
generous. You have given where I have
not deserved, nor earned. You have paid
the way where I was helpless to do so.
Your provisions are abundant and satisfy. How grateful I am. Thank you so very much for all things! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Submitted By Kerry Patton
