November 23, 2009 - TIME AGAIN TO PAUSE AND GIVE THANKS
Robert J. Tamasy
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Hard as it is to believe, another year is marching relentlessly to a close. This week, people in some parts of the world will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, meaning the annual holiday season has officially begun. But before we get caught up in both the frivolity and hysteria that define Christmas in the 21st century, it would be good to pause long enough to consider those things for which we are thankful.
Of course, you might be one of the many who ask, "Thankful? For what?" Perhaps you have lost a job during the past year - or a business. You may be hanging on professionally, but not without major adjustments. At the very least, you have seen the value of your personal investments diminish substantially - your retirement plans have probably suffered a serious setback.
Some economic experts claim the economic downturn has seen its worst and improvements are on the way, but that offers small consolation for those who are unemployed or underemployed. And such assurances do little to appease persistent bill collectors when you have fallen behind in your payments. So again it seems appropriate for some people to ask, "Thankful? For what?"
For one thing, if you accessed this "Monday Manna" on a computer, you are far ahead of millions of people who still exist without most or all of the benefits of modern technology. If you're not lying in a hospital recovering from surgery or with some serious disease, you are more fortunate than many thousands of men, women and children. The fact you can read this e-mail message indicates you have an advantage over people without sight.
This is not to minimize or belittle the challenges and struggles we all have encountered during this year in one respect or another. But it helps to have perspective, not focusing on those things we do not have, but choosing instead to acknowledge and appreciate the benefits and blessings we do have. The Bible offers suggestions on how we can be thankful, even during difficult times:
Show thankfulness through your work. Work is an important part of our lives and calling as members of humankind. Regardless of our abilities and talents, we each can make important contributions to the world around us through our work. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17).
Express thankfulness for your difficulties. In the midst of hardship and adversity, we often gain our greatest lessons. A truism of life is we usually learn more through failure than from success. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4).
Offer thankfulness - regardless of your circumstances. Believing in a God that is not distant, but personally interested and involved in each of us, requires trusting that He is in control of even small details of our lives - both the good and the not-so-good. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). "...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).
If this year has been one of the best of your life, you can rejoice and be thankful for that. Even if this year has been hard, faith in God can offer reassurance that He has not forgotten you - and has a plan for your life.
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran of 38 years in professional journalism, he is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today's Workplace and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential. For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. Looking back over this year so far, do you feel thankful? Why or why not?
2. What have been your greatest challenges this year? What have been some of your greatest joys or sources of happiness?
3. Have you ever considered how you conduct yourself at work and utilize your talents, skills and experiences ways of showing thankfulness? Explain your answer.
4. How is it possible for God to "in all things work for the good of those who love him," especially if their circumstances have involved great pain and suffering? Can you think of any times like that personally when you could truly feel thankful, even if only through the vision of hindsight?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses:
Psalm 7:17, 9:1-2, 69:30-31; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Daniel 2:23; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 4:19