In a few days, we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.
Thanksgiving, contrary to popular belief (at least in some circles), is not a day set aside to watch multiple football games and consume gluttonous quantities of artery-clogging, heart attack inducing foods.
So then, how did Thanksgiving come to be, and what is its purpose, if not to watch football?
The First Thanksgiving
To understand the purpose of Thanksgiving, we need to go back in our time machines to see how it all got started.
There seems to be some disagreement over who celebrated the first Thanksgiving.
In 1619, the people of Virginia issued a proclamation mandating a day of “Thanksgiving to Almighty God” to celebrate ships from England arriving safely in America.
Of course, there are also the people of Massachusetts who, in 1621, celebrated by setting aside several days for fasting and giving thanks to God after a successful harvest.
So, in reality, whether you side with the Virginians or the folks from Massachusetts, Thanksgiving started with a singular purpose. It is a day to give thanks to God for His provision in our lives.
Sadly, most of us, myself included, don’t think about how blessed we are very often. Oh, sure, we may say a quick prayer and thank God for our food today. But how many of us really take the time on a regular basis to be thankful for all that God has provided?
Paul’s Thanksgiving
The issue of being thankful really hit home to me as I was reading a passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
From the book of Acts, we know that Paul was beaten and flogged without a trial and thrown into a Roman prison (Acts 16:16-40). The jailer, to ensure Paul didn’t escape, put Paul in the deepest part of the prison and had his feet locked into stocks.
During this time of incarceration, Paul wrote his letter to the believers in Philippi. In this letter, Paul does not ask the Philippians to come and rescue him, or even pray for his release from prison.
Instead, Paul was thankful for the Philippians. He said,
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:3-6.
So, while chained up in prison, Paul says he prays to God thankfully and joyfully for the believers in Philippi!
Then, Paul continues his prayer encouraging the Philippian believers to remain strong and steadfast in their faith.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).
Imagine that! Paul tells the Philippians how much he cares for them and encourages them, all while sitting in a Roman prison.
Although, it turns out that the story of Paul’s imprisonment doesn’t end there!
Paul tells the Philippians that God used his time in prison to help spread the Gospel. Even in chains, Paul continued to tell people about Jesus. As a result, all the palace guards knew about his faith.
Moreover, Paul’s boldness spread outside the prison walls and caused other believers in Rome to spread the Gospel more courageously and fearlessly (Philippians 1:14).
Thankful Reflections
You don’t need a holiday to be thankful to God for His blessings in your life.
Paul was joyful as he sat in prison, thinking of and praying for fellow Christians. He even managed to preach the Gospel while in prison. Paul’s courage emboldened others to take a stand for Christ.
Unless I miss my guess, you are not currently imprisoned on false charges.
So, if Paul was joyful and thankful under these conditions, I really don’t have an excuse. I have a loving family, I attend a wonderful church, and all my physical needs are being met.
I have much to be thankful for! How about you?
More Articles on Character
I’ve written many articles about character over the years. You can search for “character” to find them, or you can check out the links below for five of the most recent articles.
- #348: What Kind of Legacy Are You Leaving?
- #347: Leadership is Taking Responsibility for Lives, Not Numbers!
- #334: If You’re Not Rowing, You’re Drifting
- #332: What Is the Wrong Way to Achieve Greatness?
- #325: Do Hard Workers Make The Best Neighbors?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. What are you most thankful for, and how do you express your thankfulness to loved ones?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Character
