THE ART OF THANKSGIVING IS THANKS-LIVING

By Gerald Cowan

     Thanksgiving is gratitude in action. In return for your own good fortune, give something to others that will give them cause for joy and will lead them to thank God too. Here are a few ways to do it.
     THANK GOD for the gift of life by living it triumphantly, as a channel of blessings from God to others.
     THANK GOD for your abilities and talents by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good.
     THANK GOD for opportunities by accepting them as challenges to achieve.
     THANK GOD for your health and strength by care and respect for your body.
     THANK GOD for inspiration and encouragement by giving encouragement to others.
     THANK GOD for comforts received by calming and comforting others in their times of trouble and stress.
     THANK GOD for your happiness by trying to make others happy.
     THANK GOD for contributions made by others by adding your own creative contributions to the stream of human progress.
     THANK GOD for your humanity by practicing true brotherhood, without prejudice or malice against those who are not of "your kind."
     THANK GOD for friendship by being friendly, being a friend.
     THANK GOD for love by loving - by unselfish giving of yourself and by unselfish receiving from others who give to you.
     THANK GOD for each new day by living it to the fullest.
     THANK GOD!  Thank Him by giving hands, arms, legs, and voice to your thankful spirit. Thank Him by adding you your prayers of thanksgiving some works, some acts of thanks-living. Thank Him for all your yesterdays. Thank Him for today. Thank Him for tomorrow - as long as there is a tomorrow -“ and then thank Him in eternity.

- Gerald Cowan preaches for the Dongola church of Christ in Dongola, IL.  He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com