The late gospel singer and writer Andre Crouch had a popular song back in the 70s titled, “To God Be the Glory.” The opening verse says, “How can I say thanks for the things God has given me? Things so undeserved, yet he gave to prove his love to me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude!”
Thanksgiving is a special time for us to express our gratitude. Thanksgiving is more than simply a holiday. It’s certainly more than a time to eat too much and watch football with family. It is a time to give thanks.
This Thanksgiving I give thanks to still be here. Life is a most precious gift that we tend to take for granted. A close brush with death can cause us to reevaluate and look at life through a different set of eyes. When I had my heart surgery last December, I never thought I was going to die. I prayed for God to see me through the surgery and bring healing to my heart and my body in the days and weeks afterward. Now, almost a year later, I give thanks that he did exactly that. I give thanks to my cardiologist and my surgeon, as well as all the medical team, for using their God-given knowledge and skills to save my life, as well as the lives of many others. I give thanks to the cardiac rehab team that pushed me to get stronger. I give thanks to my wife of almost 50 years who stood by my side, took care of me and rallied me back to health. I give thanks to my daughter, who happens to be a registered nurse, who was always there with tough but encouraging love and help. I give thanks to all the many friends, especially the members at Lanier Baptist Church, who prayed for me to get well.
I give thanks for each new sunrise. I give thanks for the opportunity to see more of this beautiful world this past year and visit places I never dreamed I would see. I give thanks for the many opportunities to minister to others at our church and to be ministered to by them, as well. I give thanks for the opportunities to bless others through my writing, music and even humor through stories and songs as Bro. Billy Bob. I give thanks for the opportunities to “play” in my woodshop and craft works of art.
We are not promised another day, much less another year. It has been said that life is like a vapor. It is here one minute and gone the next. Every single day we live, each breathe we take, is a gift from God. Each moment we spend with family, loved ones and friends should be cherished.
In the 17th chapter of the gospel according to Luke, the writer tells us about 10 lepers who had an encounter with Jesus. He sent them to see the priests and as they were going their skin began to clear up and their leprosy disappeared. One might think that all 10 of them ran back to Jesus to tell him thank you, but not quite. In fact, only one of the 10 returned to give thanks. The rest, evidently, went on their merry way with little thought, and evidently not much gratitude for the enormous blessing they had received. May we never be guilty of taking life and the blessings we have received for granted. May we instead receive them with gratitude and give thanks where thanks is due. Happy Thanksgiving week!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
