We will soon be entering Thanksgiving this marks the beginning of Christmas season as well.  Right here at the church, the Christmas decorations go up and Christmas tunes reverberate around the buildings. What better way to herald the gift of the Christ child than a healthy Thanksgiving.

 

I am reminded about the story of a sage who was walking in the country when he came across an old farmer working in the fields. “How’s it going?” he asked. “Terrible!!” The farmer began to recite his litany of troubles. “The tomato crop failed this year. The apples had worms in them. The corn crop was a disaster. Things couldn’t get any worse. My kids were sick. My wife broke her arm. Nothing has gone well No signs of anything getting better. Trouble on every side. Can’t pay the bills. If I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Things just couldn’t get worse. It’s been a terrible year.” 
God looked down and spoke to the sage “If he thinks THIS is bad, wait until he sees next year.”

The godly sage continued walking and came across the farmer in an adjoining field.
“How’s it going?” he asked. The farmer replied, “Doing pretty good. The corn crop is not the best in the world, but it will give us a little money. The apples weren’t as good as last year, but they sure made some good applesauce. My kids were sick but they’re doing better now. We paid off half of the bills this year, so I am thankful for that. We’re a happy family and we’ve got food on the table.”  God said to the sage, “Well if he thinks THAT’S good, just wait until he sees what I will do for him next year!!!”

The most intense moments of thankfulness are not found in times of plenty but when difficulties and troubles abound. The apostle Paul didn’t say to give thanks “for” all circumstances, but “in” all circumstances. All our circumstances in life are not good, but there will always be something in those circumstances for which to give thanks. We live in such times when terror and needs abound, and when the price of everything keeps going up and job layoffs are becoming all the more reality.  But this too will pass. What do we do now?  The scripture says, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thes.5:18 KJV).

 

Pastor Subash Cherian