Time to Give Thanks

Not being a pastor any more, I almost have little need for the extensive files loaded with anecdotes and illustrations accumulated over the years. However, with Thanksgiving approaching, I dug out the thick file so labeled and chose a few of the stories and insights on the subject. Just because the paper they’re on is beginning to “yellow” does not diminish their value.

In a 1973 sermon titled “Don’t Sit on the Thorns,” Brian Harbour speaks of a 17th century preacher named Jeremy Taylor who had just seen his home plundered and his family driven out of doors, their worldly possessions gone. Taylor writes,

“What now? Let me look about me. They have left me the sun and the moon, a loving wife and many friends to pity me, and some to relieve me. They have not taken away my merry countenance and my cheerful spirit and a good conscience; they have still left me the providence of God and all the promises of the Gospel, and my religion, and my hopes of heaven, and my charity to them, too; and still I sleep and digest, I eat, and drink. I read and meditate — and he that hath so many causes of joy and so great, is very much in love with sorrow and peevishness, who leaves all these pleasures and chooses to sit down upon his little handful of thorns.”

Taylor (and thus Brian Harbour) says the fellow who chooses to complain instead of giving thanks is like one who intentionally sits on a handful of thorns.

Gloria Steinem (hey, I’ll quote anyone if it’s worth saying!) once said, “America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people.” She was right. For God’s people, it’s not enough to give thanks for our bounty, but must be looking for ways to share God’s blessings with others who have less.


In a column dated November 27, 1997, Jim Futral, then pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, told the church some areas for which he was thankful. It was most definitely not your typical list. Some excerpts….

“Thank you, Lord, for roads that are torn up.” (They remind me of how much better roads are now than they used to be.)

“Thank you, Lord, for food that isn’t exactly and precisely as I would want it to be.” (It makes me realize how plentiful food is these days, that almost everyone around me has plenty to eat.)

“Thank you, Lord, for taxes.” (We have an incredible standard of living, and the blessings society gives must be paid for.)

“Thank you, Lord, for the cold weather.” (The land is invigorated and made better through the chilling winds of winter.)

“Thank you, Lord, for people who don’t like me.” (I remember that some of them don’t like you, either, and you were perfect.)

“Thank you, Lord, for the experience of death.” (Jim’s mother had just died. He was thankful she wasn’t suffering now and “even more thankful that she is cared for by you now.”)

“Thank you, Lord, for when I do not feel good.” (It causes me to stop, reflect, and remember to take care of my body.)

“Finally, Lord, thank you for when things are not perfect at church.” (They make me rely totally upon you, Lord.)

(Jim Futral is now the executive-director of all Mississippi Baptists.)

Jay Wolf (pastor of FBC Montgomery, AL) told this one a decade ago. “A teenage boy told his dad, ‘Hey, Pop, I learned to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in Spanish today.” The impressed father replied, “Great son. Now learn to say it in English.”

As a college student nearly a half-century ago, I heard famed columnist James “Scotty” Reston of the NY Times speak to our student body. Not long ago, I read that in November of 1991, just one month before his death, he said: “America has won World War II and defeated Communism in my lifetime. We’re the only superpower left standing. We have more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving than at any time in my life. Yet we are not thankful. We are at peace with everyone in the world except ourselves.”

This is from C. T. Studd, veteran Christian statesman of several generations ago. “Let us not rust out. Let us not glide through the world and then slip quietly out without ever having blown the trumpet loud and long for our blessed Redeemer. At the very least, let us see to it that the devil holds a thanksgiving service in hell when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle.”

Helen Keller said, “For three things I thank God every day of my life: that He has vouchsafed me knowledge of His works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; and deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to — a life joyous with light and flowers and Heavenly song.”

2 thoughts on “Time to Give Thanks

  1. My father- feeling rather lonely on a business trip in a far away cold weather city- was sitting in a cafe staring out the window at the snow. He saw a man flat on his stomach on a skate board type set up pushing himself down the street. He had no legs. My dad said he felt like falling down on his knees then and there and shouting thanksgiving to God for his blesings.

    Now my father a decade or two older was sitting in the Coumadin clinic (having his blood checked for the blood thinnner level) recovering from a triple bypass surgery and triple blood clots on his lungs, feeling tired and lowly from the wait heard a commotion at the door. In came a load of nursing home patients, one of which was wheeled in with no legs looking very frail. Dad said he could not help but smile and mutter to himself “Dear Father I get the point”. I noticed after he told me that story with a sparkle in his eye he made his way to the door for a walk around the yard.

  2. We are to give thanks for everything; in every situation, for this is God’s Will in Christ Jesus concerning us.

    All that happens comes by His Throne.

    Satan, sickness, death are instruments used by God to fulfill His Purpose.

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