November 2007 Message from the Pastor

Getting Thankful

Do you remember the story about Abraham Lincoln and his sons? As it’s told, Abe is sitting on the porch watching his sons play in their muddy yard on a rainy day. A neighbor notices the boys are wearing their Sunday best clothes and is shocked that Lincoln would allow such behavior. When the neighbor asks him why he doesn’t make the boys stop, Lincoln replies, “It’s not that I couldn’t stop them, it’s a question of how to get them to want to stop making such a mess.”

I assume that this month you will observe thanksgiving with many of the usual trappings. But I know we can go through the motions of such traditions without engaging in the true spirit of thanksgiving.

We have plenty of reasons to be unthankful. Work probably consumes too much of our time and energy. The cost of living here often makes us wish for higher salaries or more affordable lifestyles. Gas prices are high, traffic is a pain. The kids are stressed too and don’t always get along with each other or with parents. The war continues and problems like healthcare seem unsolvable. And, we’re all getting older and can measure the deterioration.

Like Lincoln, we have to decide if we want to be thankful. Counting blessings isn’t always easy. Many of the trappings of our modern lives are enjoyable but don’t easily translate into happiness. We have lots of “stuff” but may not have much joy.

If we do want to be more thankful, we may want to start looking at the things we truly value and are deeply thankful for. The loving relationships in our lives, a sense of security, peacefulness in our daily lives and a loving experience of church are good places to start. Count these blessings and we may feel more joyful.

But I also think that the idea of giving thanks is really about giving. We’re not just saying thanks to the sources of our blessings. We give thanks through generous actions, loving deeds, kind words and sacrificial offerings. In giving, we receive. We receive a new attitude, a new heart, a new and joyful spirit, a deeper peace.

During this month with our stewardship campaign, our thanksgiving celebrations, and the beginning of Advent, let’s work at getting thankful through giving!


Pastor Jim Friedrich