Last month Thanksgiving came and left so quickly. As it approached, it couldn’t have felt further away. That was my second consecutive Thanksgiving in Africa. And it felt so different from in the US; especially in the midwest where the winters are cold and snowy. We were definitely approaching triple digits in Malawi, temperature-wise!
I think because so many of the external circumstances were different, I didn’t even realize it was November-let alone Thanksgiving. But as this holiday approached, so did the theme of giving thanks and its role in a person’s life; especially a follower of Christ. We are commanded and instructed SO many times in the Scriptures to give thanks.
As we were doing ministry in Nkotakota, Malawi, it was hot, dry, dusty, and tiring because of the heat and sleepless nights, there’s lots of tossing and turning as our bodies adjust to the heat, ministry can be difficult because of the differences in culture and language, living in 24/7 community can be draining because people are so different and they might do things that get on my nerves, it takes forever and a day to get anywhere in Africa, and my back sweats constantly, not to mention, my pale skin fries in the sun so I look like a lobster….
Hopefully, you got my point with that rant: it can be so easy to focus on the things I have to complain about because well…they’re uncomfortable.
“But what do I have to be thankful for…”
*insert cricket whistle*
“Hmmn..I guess I’d have to think about that one for a minute.”
Complaining is a feedback loop that naturally feeds off itself. If one negative thought is dwelt on and voiced, it naturally leads to more complaining. However, Thanksgiving can easily break that loop and start its own loop. The problem is, if we’re already in the complaining loop, we have to intentionally choose to give thanks.
Thanksgiving changes the way we think. I mean, it literally changes what’s happening in our brain. But it’s a choice. And it has to be cultivated. This season I choose to cultivate thanksgiving.
I feel led to start each day with thankfulness-by writing out what I’m thankful for.
I want to encourage and challenge you this Thanksgiving season to do the same. Start each day by writing down some things you are thankful for and see how it might change your mindset, your day, your week, your month, your year, and your community. And share the Thanksgiving because it’s contagious!
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
Cheers!
