Start a tradition of thanking God for gifts to come.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
The turkey is on the table, my favorite green bean supreme casserole is beside it and, best of all, my extended family rounds our dining room table. It’s a little crowded, I have to admit. Sometimes elbows rub and we’ve had to use every chair in the house, but we all fit—and the amazing aroma of Thanksgiving fills the house.
In a few minutes we’ll share what we’re thankful for, but this year, as the host, I’m adding a new twist to our family tradition. I suppose it all started at the beginning of the year when I was trying to think of a word to focus on. The phrase “Expect a Blessing” kept coming to mind.
expect or blessing. I even looked for something else altogether. But again and again it came back to me. Browsing a cute little gift store in town, the same three words greeted me on a hand-painted sign, and I said to myself, Okay, okay, I get it.
I wrote “Expect a Blessing” on the inside flap of my journal and vowed to mean it. I said it whenever a worry came into my thoughts. Instead of going over the worst of any given situation, I countered it with the best. Even if a blessing didn’t follow, I felt at peace.
So, in line with my theme for the year, and in addition to sharing gratitude for what’s already happened, I’m asking everyone to give thanks for a blessing that’s on the way—a goal they want to accomplish, a vacation down the road, maybe a raise at work, their hopes for tomorrow.
Dear God, on this special day of Thanksgiving, thank You for the amazing gifts You give us, most especially the ones to come.