A REAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE ATTENDED a number of Thanksgiving services.  Some took place on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving, and some the morning of the day of turkey and football and of course the pilgrims and the Indians. I have even attended some on the Sunday before or after at churches that would rather not bother their congregants during the middle of the week. (It seems to mess up the cooking time of the turkey and pumpkin pie!)

     This year I attended a wonderful thanksgiving service on October 22^nd, the day just happened to be the day my second eldest became Mrs. Krista Tankoano.  Now, you might think I was giving thanks for my daughter getting married (I am), and you might think I am giving thanks for my new son-in-law (I am), you might even think that I am giving thanks that we didn’t break the bank to fund the celebration (I am), but thanksgiving service I most witnessed was in the gracious, thankful, helping service of a number of individuals who gave so freely to serve our family on that very special day. I could name them all, but they know who they are, and how they gave so freely of themselves. I can say they truly modeled the attitude of Jesus Christ of which the Apostle Paul wrote of in Philippians 2:1-5,

^“1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:”

     They cooked food, served the guests, washed dishes, provided flowers and ambiance. Some helped with make-up and hair preparations, and others simply were ready to do anything that needed to be done. And all did so with gracious and I even dare to say, thankful hearts.  Their selfless service allowed Linda and I to more fully enjoy the day filled with family and friends in celebration of God’s gift of love wrapped up in marriage.

     I was struck by a recurring phrase I heard numerous times as I sought to thank those who served so graciously.  I would say “thank you…” to which the person would reply, “No, thank you for allowing me to serve in this way.” To them it was a service of thanks-giving, and in such an act of service my own heart overflowed with gratitude to God and to each one who so freely gave of time, talent, and treasure. It is as Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, so freely give.” These dear brothers and sisters truly followed the Lord’s message and model, and for that I am thankful.

     Their selfless service shall now always be a constant reminder of how I am to give; freely and with a grateful heart. It’s a lesson we all would do well to focus upon not just in this month of Thanksgiving, but all the year through. Always being reminded of what motivates our thanks. As the songwriter Henry Smith composed,

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks because He’s given

Jesus Christ, His Son.

Give thanks. Give thanks.