Thanksgiving can be every day

We were all sitting around the table. The cooks had prepared a delicious balanced meal for us. I thought the food, and the service, was very good. Yet, as I listened, I heard some disturbing comments:
“This food isn’t as good as last time” …“They never give you enough” …“It could use some more seasoning” …“I didn’t care for the dessert.”
I guess times, and people, haven’t changed much!
Moses listened to the people of God as they sat down to eat their manna in the wilderness:
“Not manna again! We’ve had the same menu every day this week.” …“I wish we’d never left Egypt” …“What are we doing in this God-forsaken place?”
Not once did Moses hear God’s people say: “Thanks be to God who saved us from slavery in Egypt, who has led us safely through this wilderness-land, and who has provided us with all the food and drink we need! Those people were chronic complainers! They complained and griped because they were dissatisfied with the good life God gave them! Life would have been so much better, and much more enjoyable, if they had learned to give compliments – if they had looked for the positive in life!
We forget so quickly and so easily the many ways in which God has blessed us! We forget how much we owe to our family and our friends. We forget about all those countless people who have blessed our lives, every day, in so many ways: farmers, factory workers, teachers, law enforcement people, bank tellers, grocery clerks, CEO’s and custodians, plus a host of other nameless folks.
How easy it is for us to go merrily on our way and never take the time to say “THANK YOU!” to the people around us, and to the great God who provides for us so well! How much better life would be if, instead of griping, we expressed our gratitude! How much more enjoyable life would be if we spoke words of compassion and care, rather than complaining all the time! Compliments are always better than complaints! Compliments come from seeing the good in life!
Thanksgiving Day was “yesterday”! What about today? Will we set an example, today, for our children, grandchildren, parents, friends, and others to follow? Will we show others what a joy it is to give thanks?
Give thanks today! Keep count: how many times can I say “Thank You” to God? How many ways might I show my appreciation to my family, my friends and neighbors? How do I say “Thank you” to those numbers of persons who add so much to my life each day? How many compliments can I give to those around me?
Keep track: remember all the ways in which we have been blessed – by God and by others!