Today is Thanks\u00adgiv\u00ading, and once again I am remind\u00aded of all that I have to be grate\u00adful for.<\/p>\n
God loves me. I have a won\u00adder\u00adful fam\u00adi\u00adly (both by birth and by mar\u00adriage). I have a faith\u00adful team of sup\u00adport\u00aders who part\u00adner with me in min\u00adistry. I have the coolest call\u00ading in the world. I have fab\u00adu\u00adlous stu\u00addents in my min\u00adistry. I live in Amer\u00adi\u00adca in the 21st cen\u00adtu\u00adry \u2014 one of the great\u00adest, freest, and most pros\u00adper\u00adous cul\u00adtures of all time. I live in Cal\u00adi\u00adfor\u00adnia, which is as awe\u00adsome as the rest of you think it is. And, and, and, and\u2026<\/p>\n
Today is Thanks\u00adgiv\u00ading, and so such a list springs eas\u00adi\u00adly to mind. It reminds me that I am to be thank\u00adful every day. Many pas\u00adsages com\u00admand us to be grate\u00adful. Among them are Eph\u00adesians 5:19\u201320, Colos\u00adsians 2:7, Colos\u00adsians 3:15\u201316, and 1 Thes\u00adsa\u00adlo\u00adni\u00adans 5:18. They\u2019re won\u00adder\u00adful pas\u00adsages and worth mem\u00ado\u00adriz\u00ading.<\/p>\n
But my favorite pas\u00adsage on grat\u00adi\u00adtude is from Deuteron\u00ado\u00admy 8:17\u201318: <\/p>\n
You may say to your\u00adself, \u201cMy pow\u00ader and the strength of my hands have pro\u00adduced this wealth for me.\u201d But remem\u00adber the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the abil\u00adi\u00adty to pro\u00adduce wealth\u2026 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It is God who gives us the abil\u00adi\u00adty. Not just the abil\u00adi\u00adty to pro\u00adduce wealth, but also the abil\u00adi\u00adty to make jokes, to find love, to enjoy a sun\u00adset, to get good grades, to run quick\u00adly, to leap in pud\u00addles, and to sleep sound\u00adly at night.<\/p>\n
Every day is filled with occa\u00adsions for grat\u00adi\u00adtude, but we almost always let them pass unre\u00admarked.<\/p>\n
This Thanks\u00adgiv\u00ading, take to heart the ever-quotable G. K. Chester\u00adton:<\/p>\n
You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the con\u00adcert and the opera, and grace before the play and pan\u00adtomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketch\u00ading, paint\u00ading, swim\u00adming, fenc\u00ading, box\u00ading, walk\u00ading, play\u00ading, danc\u00ading, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n