by Veronica Neffinger

Colorful, feather-shaped pieces of construction paper sit on the kitchen table, along with cut-outs of turkey-shaped bodies and body parts--beak, feet, etc. My mother brings over the magic markers and we are ready to begin making our yearly Thanksgiving turkeys.

This was a tradition my mother started when I was very young, and we participated every year that I remember until I left for college. We would assemble our turkeys and then write one thing we were thankful for on each feather.

Looking back, I remember it being so simple, especially in the early years: family, friends, pets, God, food, a warm house. In high school things became a bit more theological, but yet they still flowed fairly easily off my pen: salvation, God's mercy, spiritual mentors.

Holiday traditions like these are fun. They build memories and focus on the blessings of life; but sometimes, especially as adults, it is harder to easily list what we are thankful for. Either it seems too cliche, or we can find it difficult to be sincere about our thankfulness when perhaps times are very hard.

My Thanksgivings after high school have been much less carefree. Adult thoughts of school, jobs, finances, and traveling can weigh heavy on us even as we attempt to drum up feelings of thankfulness on its namesake holiday.

Crosswalk.com contributor Debra Fileta shares her story of recognizing that Thanksgiving is about more than merely listing your blessings. "What if being thankful meant surrendering our struggles, too?" she asks.

"I am proclaiming right now that in times of suffering, a heart of gratitude means more than just saying 'thank you,'" Fileta says. "It means believing that God is who he says he is. Believing that he is good, that he is love, and that he is for me. Believing that he never changes, that he never fails, and that he is working all things for what is good."

God understands that thankfulness is not always (or usually) a gut-reaction for us. Even Jesus struggled to thankfully accept God's Plan of salvation while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, preparing to go through the agony of the cross.

"'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.' And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him," Luke 22:42-43 records.

This passage tells us two things:

First, there is value in going through the motions even if the feelings aren't there. Choosing to thank God even if you don't feel like it and are actually more stressed than thankful can be an important first step in having your heart opened to true gratitude.

Secondly, the passage says angels ministered to Christ and helped strengthen Him for what he was about to undergo. We have someone even better than God's entire host of angels to aid us--Jesus Himself.

Though life may bring us trials, we are not alone. And though offering up thanksgiving in the midst of those trials may be a sacrifice, it is a rewarding one.

"When I look at those pieces of my life that look overwhelmingly difficult or disappointing and can thank God for whatever good He plans to bring out of them, I am offering a sacrifice of praise," says Crosswalk.com conributor April Motl. "When I can entrust what looks like something that is broken beyond repair to my heavenly Father's goodness and love, I am offering a sacrifice of praise."

This world and the life we live in it is often a thankfulness-stealer. But in Christ, we know that we can "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16) because the trials and hard times are not a test, but another reason to trust God who is working all for our good and has already given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).

What prevents you from being thankful this Thanksgiving? How can you seek to have thankfulness through the trials?

About The Author:

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

One of the dangers in presenting New Testament moral teaching is that the preacher or teacher risks reducing the Gospel to a moralism. In other words the moral truth that is proclaimed is reduced merely to another rule that I am supposed to keep out of my own flesh power. This is an incorrect notion since, for a Christian, the moral life is not achieved, it is received. The moral life is not an imposition, it is a gift from God.

In the Gospel chosen for the American Holiday of Thanksgiving we have the familiar story of the ten lepers who are healed by Jesus and only one returns to thank Him. This fact of the ingratitude of the other nine prompts an irritable response by Jesus who more than suggests that they should also have returned to give thanks. Now if we just read this Gospel on the surface we can come away merely with a moralism that we should do a better job about being thankful to God and others. Well, OK. But simply having another rule or being reminded of a rule that already exists isn’t really the Gospel, it’s just a rule or an ethic of polite society.

Where the Gospel, the Transformative Good News exists, is to receive from God a deeply grateful heart so that we do not merely say thank you, but we are actually and deeply moved with gratitude. We are not merely being polite or justly rendering a debt of obligation to say "thanks" we actually ARE grateful from the heart. True gratitude is a grace, or gift from God which proceeds from a humble and transformed heart. In such a case we do not render thanks merely because it is polite or expected, but because it naturally flows from a profound experience of gratitude. This is the Gospel, not a moralism, but a truth of a transformed heart.

Thus, an anointing to seek from God is a powerful transformation of our intellect and heart wherein we become deeply aware of the remarkable gift that everything we have really is. As this awareness deepens so does our gratitude and joy at the "magnificent munificence" of our God. Everything, literally everything, is a gift from God.

Permit a few thoughts on the basis for a deepening awareness of gratitude. Ultimately gratitude is a grace, but having a deeper awareness of the intellectual basis for it can help to open us more fully to this gift.

1. We are contingent beings who depend on God for our very existence. He holds together every fiber of our being: every cell, every part of a cell, every molecule, every part of a molecule, every atom, every part of an atom. God facilitates every function of our body: every beat of our heart, every organ and movement of our body. God sustains every intricate detail of this world in which we live: the perfectly designed orbit of this planet so that we do not cook or freeze, the magnetic shield around the planet that protects us from harmful aspects of solar radiation, every intricate visible and hidden process of this earth, solar system, galaxy and universe. All of this, and us, are contingent and thus sustained by God and provided for by Him. The depth, height, length and width of what God does is simply astonishing. And he does it all free of charge. As we ponder such goodness and providence we are helped to be more grateful. All is gift.

2. Every good thing you or I do is a gift from God. St. Paul says, What have you that you have not received. And if you have received, why do you glory as though you had achieved? (1 Cor 4:7). Elsewhere he writes, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:8-10). Hence even our good works are not our gift to God, they are His gift to us. And on judgment day we cannot say to God, "Look what I have done, you owe me heaven." All we can say on that day is "Thank You!" All is gift!

3. Gifts in strange packages – There are some gifts of God that do not seem like gifts. There are sudden losses, tragedies, natural disasters and the like. In such moments we can feel forsaken by God, and gratitude is the last thing on our mind. But here too, Scripture bids us to look again: And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). We don’t always know how, but even in difficult moments God is making a way unto something good, something better. He is paving a path to glory, perhaps through the cross, but unto glory. For now we may have questions but Jesus has said to us: But I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. On that day you will have no more questions to ask me. (Jn 16:22-23). Yes, even in our difficulties we are more than conquerors (Rm 8:37) because the Lord can write straight with crooked lines, and make a way out of no way. All is gift!

4. Yes, all is gift. Absolutely everything is gift. Even our failures, if we are in Christ and learn from them and they teach us humility. For what shall we give thanks? Everything! All is gift!

5. There is an old saying: Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. grace is when you get what you don’t deserve. I like you get asked a dozen times a day, "How are you doing?" I have trained myself to often answer, "More blessed than I deserve." Yes, All is gift.

6. Finally, the work "Thanks" in English is unfortunately abstract. But in the Latin and the Romance Languages, the word for "thanks" is far more tied to the fact of grace and gift. In Latin one says thank you as gratias ago tibi, or simply, gratias. Now gratias is translated as "thanks" But it is really the same word as "grace" and "gift" which in Latin is rendered gratia. Hence when one receives a gift they thus exclaim: "Grace!" or "Gifts!" It is the same with Spanish: Gracias and Italian: ‘Grazie. French has a slightly different approach but no less abstract when it says Thank you as Merci which is rooted in the Latin merces, meaning something that has been paid for or given freely. So all these languages vividly record the giftedness that underlies everything for which we are grateful. The English word "thanks" does not quite make the connections. About the closest we get are the words, gratitude and grateful. And again all these words (gratias, gracias, grazie, merci, gratitude) teach us that all is gift!

To be grateful is ultimately a gift to be be received from God. We ought to humbly ask for it. We can dispose our self to it by reflecting on things like that above but ultimately gratitude comes from a humble, contrite and transformed heart. Saying thank you is not a moralism. True gratitude is a grace, a gift that comes from a heart deeply moved, astonished and aware of the fact that all is gift.

by Melissa Kruger

I think it started when I peeked in the oven. One glance revealed blackened bread and an inner dialogue quietly simmered in my mind, overflowing into what I call "counting my bitters":

I cannot believe I burned the special cinnamon chip toast.

I was distracted because I was also making the hot chocolate, tea and coffee.

If someone would help me, then the toast wouldn't have burned.

I haven't even had a moment to sit down since I woke up.

I'm always trying to make everyone else happy; does anyone notice?

Now I have to start breakfast all over.

Sigh. I guess it's a vacation for everyone else but me.

We were in the midst of the beautiful North Carolina Mountains, staying at a home generously offered to us for a weekend getaway. On the drive up we stopped at an orchard and enjoyed perfect weather while apple picking with the kids. Providentially, our trip away fell on the weekend after my latest book project was completed. During a busy two weeks of editing, I had been waiting and longing for this very moment.

And yet, surrounded by blessings, I found myself grumbling and complaining. These inward rumblings overflowed into a sour attitude towards my family. Annoyed glances silently spoke soliloquies and sharp tones attended my words like unwelcome guests at a dinner party.

In the midst of counting my bitters, there was also a quiet assault of guilt that intermingled with my murmurings. What exactly does it take for you to be happy? Is burnt toast enough to rob you of your joy? Don't you know how many people would love to be here right now with their families? Your lack of thanksgiving proves once again your spiritual immaturity.

Both the murmuring and the guilt left me worn and weary. After breakfast I slipped away and hid myself in the walk-in closet off the bedroom. I shut myself in with my Bible and my journal and prayed. In the presence of the Lord my heart softened and my discontent washed away. The accusing voice of guilt was silenced by the tender welcome of my Savior.

Instead of counting my bitters, a new dialogue of thanksgiving began:

Thank you Lord for this time away with my family.

Thank you that each of them is here with me in this moment.

Thank you that I am healthy and able to cook for them.

Thank you for a beautiful view and time to sit and enjoy it.

Thank you for using burnt toast to reveal my need of you.

Thank you for your tender mercies, they are new every morning.

Counting my blessings refreshed and revived my soul. These new thoughts accompanied me on our hikes, playing games, and while preparing meals for my family.

Psalm 50:14-15 encourages, "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me."

And Hebrews 13:15 commands, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, it is easy become Martha-like, busy with preparations and focused on all there is to do. Trying circumstances, unmet expectations, and relational disappointments tempt us to begin counting our bitters. When we do so, we overflow with frustration and impatience to those around us. The celebration we hope to enjoy becomes impossible when our hearts are overtaken by murmuring and discontent.

The Key to Having a Thankful Heart

Thankful hearts are the fruit of time spent in the presence of the Lord. As we first give thanks to Him, we abound with love, joy, patience, and kindness to others. Perhaps in the midst of cooking the turkey, setting the table, and cleaning our homes, we need to step away from all the planning, serving, and even the people that we love so that we can have time to prepare our hearts.

As we quiet our hearts before the Lord, offering up the sacrifice of praise for His goodness in our lives, we prepare our hearts to experience the joy of giving thanks. Counting our blessings instead of counting our bitters allows us to to experience the truth of Proverbs 15:15, "The cheerful of heart has a continual feast."

About The Author:

Melissa Kruger serves as Women's Ministry Coordinator at Uptown Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the author of 'The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World' (Christian Focus, 2012). Her husband Mike is the president of Reformed Theological Seminary.

by Leslie Vernick

Thanksgiving is a time for food, family gatherings and football.

Once everyone is gathered at the table, my husband asks us to share what we're thankful for. I'm sure many of you do likewise, but from now on, don't make thanksgiving a once a year occasion.

I don't mean regularly cook a full turkey dinner but remember to be thankful more often. The Bible tells us to "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will" (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

For a long time I couldn't grasp WHY God would command us to be thankful in everything, even the bad things in our life. As a counselor, I thought that bordered on craziness.

But I have learned that when I discipline my mind and heart to give thanks, even when things seem negative to me, my attitude changes. I am not as unhappy, as critical or as complaining.

We live in a world where people feel grumpy and miserable much of the time. They complain that life, God or other people don't give them the things they feel they deserve. This entitlement thinking breeds more discontent and unhappiness.

The apostle Paul said that he "learned to be content" in plenty and in poverty. He could experience joy in both circumstances. How did he do it?

The gateway is gratitude. Learn to be thankful in all things for this IS the will of God. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord" (Psalm 92:2).

Gratitude pleases God. A thankful spirit also blesses others, leading to happier relationships.

What would be different today if instead of complaining or commenting about what wasn’t done at home, you would purpose in your heart to look for something at home you can be thankful for. For example, thank your husband for working hard at his job, or thank your wife for making dinner tonight.

There are many things throughout our day that grab our attention. If we tend to be oriented toward noticing the more negative, we may have to work at looking for the good. Recently my pastor shared a little poem that said,

"Two men looked out prison bars.
One saw mud, the other saw stars."

Both were present, but which one would you rather focus your attention on, mud or stars? It's not just God's word that encourages us to be thankful. Recent studies in positive psychology confirm that grateful people are happier people and being thankful for specific things, brings us joy.

Learn to look for the good, even in difficult situations. Practice gratitude every day. If you do, you will find that your spirit is on its way to learning greater joy and contentment with your life leading you to deeper happiness.

by Cindi McMenamin

While we tend to look forward to Thanksgiving because it usually means a four-day holiday, getting together with family, and eating more food than we have all year, it is my sincere desire that it be more meaningful this year. What if Thanksgiving were the one day in which we over-emphasized what should be on our hearts every day of the year: a heart of gratitude in everything?

God clearly spelled out His good and perfect will for us in First Thessalonians 5:18 when He inspired the Apostle Paul to write: "In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Did you catch that? In everything. In the good times, as well as the bad. In the pleasantries of life, as well as in the pain. During difficult times, trying times and frustrating times, too.

I got to thinking about how Thanksgiving might be so much more meaningful if I focused on thanking God for the things He rarely hears thanks for. Try this with me this year. Thank Him, not just for the food on the table before you partake, and the "blessings for this past year" but for all the ways He has not performed according to your liking. For all the times He has said "no" and for all the ways He has worked in and through your life, perhaps without you knowing it. Thank Him for all the unresolved issues and the ways you are still waiting for answers. Thank Him - regardless - and see what it does for your soul as you offer Him a heart of obedience and surrender this year. Thank Him - regardless - and see how it moves the others who are around your table.

Consider praying this prayer around your table on Thanksgiving:

Thank you, God, for this food we are about to eat. And thank You for Your many blessings on us this past year...the ones we've seen, as well as the ones we haven't seen.

Thank you, God for the times You have said "no." They have helped us depend on You so much more.

Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds us that You know what's best for us, even when our opinion differs.

Thank You for the things you have withheld. You have protected us from what we may never realize.

Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented us from going where You would rather not have us go.

Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You've allowed in our lives. It has helped us more closely relate to Your sufferings on our behalf.

Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in our lives. Those times have forced us to lean in closer to You.

Thank you, God, for the uncertainties we've experienced. They have deepened our trust in You.

Thank You, Lord, for the times You came through for us when we didn't even know we needed a rescue.

Thank You, Lord, for the losses we have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are our greatest gain.

Thank You, God, for the tears we have shed. They have kept our hearts soft and moldable.

Thank You, God, for the times we haven't been able to control our circumstances. They have reminded us that You are sovereign and on the throne.

Thank You, God, for Your ability to take what we consider 'tragedy' and turn it into a treasure.

Thank You, God, for those You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven.

Thank You, God, that we have an inheritance in the heavenly places...something that this world can never steal from us and we could never selfishly squander.

Thank You, God, for the greatest gift You could ever give us: forgiveness through Your perfect Son's death on the cross on our behalf.

Thank you, God, for the righteousness You credited toward us, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It's a righteousness we could never attain to on our own.

And thank You not only for our eternal salvation, but for the salvation You afford us every day of our lives as You save us from ourselves, our foolishness, our own limited insights, and our frailties in light of Your power and strength.

Thank You, God, for all that You have allowed and not allowed in our lives this past year. For we commit our lives anew to You this day and ask that You would continue to remind us, throughout this next year, that You are God, You are on the throne, and You are eternally good.

Thank You, finally, that we can pray in the name of Jesus, who made our access to You - and a personal relationship with You - possible. Amen.

About The Author:

Cindi McMenamin is a pastor's wife, Bible teacher, national speaker and author of several books, including 'Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs', 'When Women Walk Alone', 'When You're Running on Empty' and 'When a Woman Overcomes Life's Hurts'.

by John O'Leary, JohnOLearyInspires.com

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It had been a busy day.

I was in Coldwater, MI and had already spoken with two grade schools, a high school and a local college. It was now evening as I walked into a noisy, packed banquet center. Laughter, talking and greetings blended as one, thick white noise. Above it all, though, rang out a booming voice.

A musician was on the stage, playing the piano, and singing as if he was in the shower! He was clearly having a blast and as he belted out the song with such joy and passion, I remember thinking that he may never make it on The Voice, but there is no doubt that this man is on fire with life.

As I walked to the front of the room, he began a new song. He shared with those listening that it was song he wrote about gratitude.

Moving closer, I saw that he wore thick, darkened glasses. It turns out Gregory Brayton was unable to see. I watched, amazed, as the man rocked out on the piano and lifted his voice high above the noise. The refrain of the song echoed through the room, "I've got gratitude."

It was highly inspiring.

As I sat back, shut my eyes, and listened to the man, a new friend named Denise sat next to me and asked if I liked the warm up music. I told her it sounded more like the main event. She then told me a bit about Greg. Not only was he blind, but he'd been through innumerable other challenges with his health, kids, and family.

Denise then shared, that the cancer he'd been fighting for years had just returned with vengeance. Stage four. Nothing they could do now.

As she finished, I opened my eyes, looked toward the stage, and observed as Gregory belted out the final line of the song: "I've got gratitude."

My friends, we lost Greg a couple years ago, but his voice, his spirit, and that beautiful attitude continue on.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. There are so many reasons for concern. ISIS, global tension, political grandstanding. The economy is soft, markets are down, expenses are up. Many of us struggle in our own physical health, our mental health or in relationships.

But on Thursday, we have a simple and powerful opportunity to pause and be thankful.

We're invited to focus less on concerns, or what is broken, or what we wish was different, and instead focus on the good, on what we have, and on those things, those people, those gifts for which we are most grateful.

Yes, there are reasons for anxiety. But this week, I invite you to shut your eyes, count your blessings, lift your voice, and cry out like you're singing in the shower: "I've got gratitude!"