Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1982

On Being Thankful
Annette Curry

As Thanksgiving approaches each year, I often make a mental list of the things I am thankful for: abundant food, continued good health, family, church, friends and many material blessings. However, my list seems small when I read: "Give thanks in ALL circumstances" (I Thess. 5:18). Should my list include those unpleasant things like:

- my in-grown toenail?

- my friend's battle with cancer?

- the sudden death of someone who was a dear wife and mother?

- poor marks in school despite hard efforts?

- the worsening economic conditions that threaten my welfare?

- the many starving and homeless refugees?

- some many other things?

God says we can't understand everything yet (Jer. 9:12) and that " in everything God works for good with those who love him" (Romans 8:28).

I want to share a personal experience to illustrate how the works of God are beyond our understanding. Our infant daughter became sick and had to enter the Hospital for Sick Children for kidney and bladder surgery. Of course, we questioned, "Why us, Lord? And why such a little child?" And yet one particular episode stands out clearly. She was to undergo a test under anaesthetic to determine if the operation needed to be re-done since all was not working well. We were expecting our second child in two weeks and this stay at Sick Kids was very unexpected. However, the members of the church and many friends upheld us in prayer again, and the peace we felt at that time was beyond understanding. We were even able to sleep well at night. Praise God! Our daughter is enjoying good health now, more than a year later, and we are more sure than ever of the potential of the power of God in our lives.

Valleys of despair can lead to mountains of praise if we allow God to fulfill His plan for us. We may question and doubt, but we may never give up on God. If you remember that God provides enough strength to meet every trial (I Cor. 10:13), you can give thanks, not only for obvious blessings at Thanksgiving, but for all things and every day of the year.

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