November 2006
What are we thankful for?

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This month of November, we as a nation set aside a special day each year to offer thanks. A special day set aside to come together to give thanks for all our blessings. I would like us all to take a moment to reflect on what it is we are thankful for. We will all gather as family and friends to share a meal and give thanks for all we have. I hope this time together will afford us the opportunity to discuss and reflect on our gratitude for all our many blessings.

What is it we are thankful for?  What is it we think about when we give thanks?  We can answer that we are grateful for the wonderful place that we live in, thankful we are able to sustain our families and the prosperity that we have.

Our gratitude is not complete however, if we do not include being thankful for God’s spiritual blessings, and for our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our gratitude should be based on a mix of spiritual blessings and material blessings.  Let us also be grateful for God’s love and mercy, that He forgives us each day and loves us for who we are, even when we may not love Him.  He loves us without shame or embarrassment.  He believes in us even when we don’t believe in Him.  He blesses and sanctifies us each day.  Like the birds, the flowers, and all the qualities of nature God provides for, He looks upon us His own creation made in His image and cares for us even more.  Let us be thankful for the opportunity He set before us to make ourselves better through Him.  Let us be thankful for His love for us as all His children.  Our gratitude should bring about a relationship with Him and we should put our trust in Him.

Let us be in a continual state of grace and gratitude, not only for the material things He provides, but for His continued love, mercy, and saving grace.  Let this Thanksgiving Day be the start of for us as Orthodox Christians of our unending gratitude and thankfulness.  Let Thanksgiving Day be every Sunday at Divine Liturgy and let us come together as His family and give thanks for the gift of life through Jesus Christ.  May our Lord continue to grant to us all His richest blessings always.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day.