When we stop to think of Thanksgiving, certain things come to mind. Eating turkey, watching football, and a short work week are a few. Thanksgiving is a time set aside to reflect on those things for which we are thankful. I believe that thankfulness is a choice we make. We can choose to take everything for granted and believe it is our right to have, or we can be genuinely thankful for what we have, realizing many don’t have what we enjoy. Thankfulness is something we learn.

God’s Word gives us a story that shows this principle in action. Jesus told us of ten lepers who cried out to Him for relief of their condition. He heard them and told them to go and show themselves to the priest. The Bible tells us they found healing while on their way to the priest. Of the ten, only one came back to show his gratitude. Jesus then asked if there were not ten, and why did only one come back. I want to share with you here what I shared with our people this past Sunday night. I believe that we will learn to be grateful when we have a good understanding of certain things.

1. We learn to be grateful when we think about how desperate our situation was before we met Jesus.

2. We learn to be thankful when we think about what we have gained in Christ.

3. We learn to be grateful when we consider what was done for us could not have been done by us.

4. We learn to be thankful when we think about how much our ingratitude grieves the heart of God.

As you enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays this year, take time to remember and reflect on the impact that Jesus has had in your life. When we do, the choice to be thankful is easier.