Anchored in Gratitude
Another November is upon us, and we find ourselves preparing for another Thanksgiving. Our knees might creak a bit more when we get up from the dinner table, but somethings never change – we need to be grounded in gratitude no matter the season.
Change has been our constant companion, hasn't it? Some of you remember when cars were fewer, life was slower, and the North Shore really was an all-day trip! We've made the shift from rotary phones to cellphones and video calls. Some days it seems like children are born with a cellphone already in their hands! We have had to adapt in so many ways, yet through it all, God’s faithfulness remains unchanged.
Paul speaks to the profound importance of gratitude in every season when he wrote: Give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Notice he didn't say "give thanks for everything," but "in everything." We're called to maintain thankful hearts no matter the uncertainties of life.
Will you pause and look back with me? There it is, God's faithfulness, running like a golden thread through all the ups and downs of life. We've seen literal storms here in the islands, but sometimes the storms of change are the hardest to weather. We have said goodbye to dear friends, we have adjusted to new physical realities, we have downsized from homes full of children’s voice to quieter spaces. Yet each season teaches us something profound about God's unchanging character. Life is never-ending change, but God is everlastingly faithful. Intentional gratitude is the key ingredient to experiencing His faithfulness.
David speaks to us all in Psalm 103:2-5: My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Some mornings we may not feel particularly renewed, at least not until after that first cup of coffee or second sip of tea! But God's mercies truly are new every morning. As we gather around the turkey and all the trimmings (and ahi poke, because it just isn’t Thanksgiving without it!!), let's give thanks, not just for His blessings, but for God's unfailing “faithful love” to us. Our choice to remember and be grateful may just be the most precious gift we can pass on to the younger generations. who look to us to see what courageous faith truly looks like.
May our gratitude overflow as we daily consider God's unchanging faithfulness. May we be faithful to gratefully remember all His blessings, and especially for that second slice of chocolate haupia pie.
Grateful to God for you,
Pastor Jamie
