In the early 1970s, based on the popular comic strip Peanuts, the first “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” aired on prime-time television.
As
a child, watching this show became one of my favorite Thanksgiving
traditions. As an adult, it was one of the traditions I held dear with
my own children. Not only because Linus’ prayer at the dinner table
showed how to be thankful at Thanksgiving, but also because Peppermint
Patty’s behavior showed how NOT to be.
Peppermint
Patty, upon sitting down at the Thanksgiving table, made the honorable
suggestion to say grace before they began eating. But her reason for
praying was because, "It’s Thanksgiving, you know."
Peppermint
Patty initiated the call to prayer out of perceived obligation, but it
was her actions which proved she only had head-knowledge of true
thankfulness, not heart-knowledge. As soon as Linus said Amen, she looked around the table and details began to distract her from thankfulness for the gifts they’d been given.
When
her expectations of what Thanksgiving should look like didn’t match up
with her reality, Patty got upset and irritated. She began to verbally
express her dissatisfaction and became annoyed with one of the guests
(Snoopy).
She was agitated the food
didn’t meet her traditional requirements. She complained and yelled,
having quickly forgotten all about Linus’ prayer and the importance of
being truly thankful. She became focused on annoyances instead of prayer
and true gratitude.
Can you relate?
Unfortunately,
this scene is all too familiar in households across the country at
Thanksgiving. We have this idea of how we want the holiday to look, but
our reality may not match up to our expectations. Difficult
circumstances and details can distract us from indebtedness to God.
Today’s key verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, says “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Here we read when we are to be thankful — in all circumstances. And we read why
we are to be thankful — because this is God’s will for all believers as
He knows a grateful heart is a happy heart. We can be thankful no
matter what we’re facing, because God is worthy of our thanksgiving.
In
this verse, the Apostle Paul is giving instructions on how to gain
heart-knowledge, not just head-knowledge, of true gratitude. We’re to be
thankful in the midst of all circumstances, not merely those that are easy and pleasant.
I
realize this is far easier said than done. God asks us to trust His
ways even when we don’t understand them. We’re to be thankful for the
gifts He has given us, not focused on what we don’t yet have.
Rarely
do families get through Thanksgiving dinner with perfectly cooked food …
children with pristine manners … babies who don’t cry or refrain from
picking inopportune times for dirty diapers … siblings who don't argue …
spouses who don't quarrel … drinks that go un-spilled … or family
members in total agreement about which football game to watch.
Some years, families are fractured or even distant memories.
The enemy wants to use all
these side details to distract us from what we really should be focusing
on: the Giver of the gifts, not the gifts themselves.
During
the holidays or any day of the year, I can easily morph into a
Peppermint Patty if I’m not careful. I don’t want to be someone who
gives thanks with her mouth and not her heart. A person so distracted by
the less-than-desired details that she overlooks the indebtedness she
should have in her heart for Christ — not just for how He blesses, but
for Who He is.
Life’s not always easy, and
holidays aren’t always perfect or peaceful. But we can always have a
heart full of thankfulness if we remember Who gives us reasons to be
thankful, not just what we’re thankful for.
Dear
Lord, help me when I start letting details of the holidays, annoying
frustrations or unmet expectations distract me from all the reasons I
have from You to be abundantly and eternally grateful. Help me have a
heart full of thankfulness every day, but especially on the specific day
set aside to be grateful for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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