A voice of thanksgiving

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.  – Psalm 26.7

It is just coincidence that we came across this passage on American Thanksgiving. We have been in Ireland for a long time now. Thanksgiving is just another day here. Everyone goes about their business, schools are in session, and apart from maybe a brief mention of radio or the telly no one would even know.

But, for all these years, it is the one Americanism we have clung to. We still do the whole dinner bit and focus on the things we are thankful for. We have loads of family for dinner and even more friends and neighbours in the evening. It is one of highlights of the year.

I like keeping this day because of why it exists. In a culture where the majority of society saw what they had as a blessing of God we had a more grateful attitude in general. As the early settlers of Massachusetts celebrated their autumn feast with their new native friends they knew that God was worthy of their thanksgiving.

What a great reminder for us on this day. The psalmist prays that he would speak out with a voice of thanksgiving as a testimony to his people. All of us should have the goal of being a voice of thanksgiving in this world that needs to hear from a thankful people. It may not seem like there is a lot to be thankful for with the news we hear every day. If we are not careful we can forget about all that God has done for us.

As the children of God we ought to be the ‘voices of thanksgiving’ in a world that is mostly unthankful. What a difference we could make if we Christians were known as thanksgivers instead of complainers and whingers.

Lord, help me to be a voice of thanksgiving, not just today, but every day and in every way.