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Happy Thanksgiving!

In my home growing up, we had prominently displayed a framed drawing of an elderly man sitting alone at a table, his head bowed in prayer and his hands folded in front of his face. At the table before him sits what some might consider a meager meal—a simple bowl of soup and a loaf of bread. But also on the table sits a Bible. The words under the picture read: “In everything, give thanks.”

As we think about all the things we are grateful for this Thanksgiving, let us also ponder this image.

Here sits an elderly man eating alone. He has nothing grand, but he does have warm food to satiate his bodily hunger. He is thankful for this food. And he is thankful for his faith. Indeed, his faith is of such importance that he keeps it front and center. The word of God, the life of Christ, the teachings he holds so dear—all share a meal with him. They nourish him in a way that the food cannot.

We can learn an important lesson from this man. Our Lord loves us more than we can ever imagine. He is our life. He is our sustenance. The blessings He has given us are far more than we can ever count. Even when we feel like we have nothing, we know we still have Christ, for in Him, we have life and the hope for eternal life.

This Thanksgiving, let us make Christ front and center at our tables. Let us allow His words to nourish us and fill us with gratitude. And let us remember the beautiful words of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you.”

God wants us to be happy and thankful for the blessings He has given us. But He also wants us to thank Him for the difficult times, for it is in them that He helps us find strength. In them, we feel His encouragement, His guidance, and His gentle arms reaching out to fortify and nourish us. We simply need to accept His embrace, reach out, and say, “Thank You, Lord. For everything.”

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Celebrate Life Magazine! We wish you a blessed and beautiful day!

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About the author

Susan Ciancio

Susan Ciancio is the editor of Celebrate Life Magazine and executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program.