As Thanksgiving approaches, and especially on Thanksgiving Day, individuals and families reflect on what they have to be thankful for in the past year. There are many families that have had significant events that have taken place. For instance, a loved one who was in serious condition and was not expected to survive but, with God’s guiding grace, the doctors and the nurses were able to pull them through. Or perhaps the family that, by the grace of God, survived a head-on collision with only minor injuries. There are also many families and individuals that have had just an “ordinary” year. They too were blessed by God’s loving hand as He provided for their daily needs.

All of God’s children can give thanks for the blessings that God provides in this earthly life. Not a single one is forgotten; we learn from God’s Word that he watches over every aspect of our lives, even the minutest details, “even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10: 30 EHV). Dr. Martin Luther explained it this way: Included in our daily blessings are “everything that we need to for our bodily welfare, such as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, land and cattle, money and goods, God-fearing spouse and children, faithful servants and rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, order, honor, true friends, good neighbors, and the like.” (Martin Luther’s Small Catechism).

Everyone has much to be thankful for! The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Colossians, “Everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17 EHV). However, far above and beyond giving thanks for the earthly blessings that God daily provides are the spiritual blessings that God blesses us with. We are to be especially thankful for the gift of His dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave [us] His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 EHV).

Out His great love for us, Jesus came and lived among us. He lived a perfectly sinless life in our place and at the appointed time He shed His holy blood on the cross as He died paying for the sins of the world. Those who believe in Him enjoy the forgiveness of all their sins and can live with a clean conscience and will be with Him and all who believe, in heaven for eternity. Yes, we have much to be thankful for, more than we can ever imagine. Please join us this Thanksgiving as we praise God, giving thanks for our blessings!