I had to take out the garbage. Grumble, grumble, grumble. It’s a quarter mile walk from my apartment to the dumpster. GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE! On the way I passed the tennis court fence which is covered with jasmine in full bloom spreading its sweet fragrance. AHHHHHH!!!!

That’s the way life is, a mixture of nuisances and delights. I’m not going to tell people not to grumble about the unpleasant things in life. Anyone who has read the Book of Psalms has discovered a whole lot of complaints. I am going to tell people to pay attention to the nice things that happen in life, otherwise we create for ourselves a gloomy way of viewing everything.

The colonists at Plymouth might never have celebrated that first Thanksgiving in 1621 if they had only considered the devastation that had befell them the previous year. Half the people who had arrived on the Mayflower were dead. The survivors had suffered terribly, yet one of their number, Edward Winslow, could write about the goodness of God in light of the plenty they now had.

I know that Thanksgiving Day has become an occasion for eating too much and watching football, but it’s worth doing some real thanksgiving. I’m not just talking about grace before the feast, but reflecting on many, many wonderful things God has given us. Maybe it sounds maudlin, but Irving Berlin had it right: count your blessings. Don’t ignore the joys of life, big or small. Give thanks to God.

May you find delight in God’s gifts.

Read Psalm 100 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne