From the bottom of our hearts, my family and I wish you all a very happy and blessed Givingthanks day! No, I’m not linguistically challenged; I spelled it that way intentionally.

In just a few days our whole nation will be sitting down to sumptuous feasts, ones which reflect the bounty and prosperity which God has so graciously bestowed upon us. Hopefully we will all take the time to reflect on those blessings and firmly resolve afresh to never take them for granted.

Indeed, giving thanks is at the heart of Thanksgiving Day. How excellent it is that our nation still remembers to do so! Even so, I think it would be so wonderful if we all emphasized the giving part more this year. Wouldn’t you agree that as God’s children-His hands extended, we should be giving more than just simple thanks?

That’s why I am wishing everyone happy Givingthanks Day this year. I want my greeting to be a reminder to myself and to others that it would be magnanimous to put giving first.

I know a few families that spend their entire Thanksgiving Day filling plates and cleaning tables in a homeless shelter so that those facing difficulties and hardships don’t miss out on a wonderful home-cooked meal and fellowship on this special day. Their main reason for being there, however, is to share God’s love, not through bible tracts or words, but through action. I am not suggesting that everyone head to a shelter and serve likewise, but there are sundry ways that we can all give something special on Thanksgiving.

We could, for instance, donate food to homeless shelters or battered women’s shelters, etcetera. Or, we could volunteer a few hours to a nursing home this week. One of the nursing homes in my area is always in need of volunteers to simply help the residents play bingo. Anyone can do that and it would surely make someone’s holiday a lot less lonely. We could even obtain a list of the resident’s first names and bless them all with a Thanksgiving card (with permission of course). If nothing else, we should consider sharing the wonderful gift of compassion by inviting someone to our homes which has no place else to go, perhaps a widow or a college student who cannot afford to travel home.

I’m sure that if we all pray about how we might give more of ourselves this Thanksgiving, the Lord will show us how to individually bless Him by blessing others. It goes without saying that our Heavenly Father always desires us to be thankful, but it delights Him abundantly when we give gifts of love to others because this is a sacrifice of praise unto Him.

Again, happy Givingthanks Day!

May God be pleased with your giving of thanks, and others blessed by your giving.

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35