A Delicious Thanksgiving

Have you ever seen that awful movie, Mommy Dearest? If not, don't. If so, well, things happen. :) But seriously, the mother in the movie is an insecure and unkind woman who tries to buy her daughter's affections. She treats the girl harshly, but she pressures the child into saying thank-you for all the extravagant gifts she buys for her. In fact, the title of the movie comes from the fact that the mom makes the girl say, "Thank you, Mommy Dearest" for everything!

To be honest, sometimes I treat God like He is Daddy Dearest. I always hear it preached that we need to be thankful. They say that being thankful opens doors for more blessing. I feel like before I even receive a blessing from God, I am being chased down by the "Did you say thank you??!!" police.

It is definitely true that we should be grateful, and that it opens doors to more blessing. But it's not the half of it! No. God has been showing me that it's not merely about saying a word to avoid His (or others') calling me an ingrate. And it isn't about making sure I get more out of Him. I can say thank you 100 times, but not have a thankful heart. What He really wants, remember, is a loving relationship with us. If this is true, this kind of demanding of a personal ego boost for Him is not fitting.

What He is actually after is a recognition of all He does for us. Have you ever done something for someone you love, and doing it was a HUGE undertaking? One time I was on a mission trip, and a Bible Study group of guys took my girls' Bible Study on an amazing trip to go horseback riding, have a sunset picnic, and then get ice cream. Not only was it just a fun day, but I happen to know it cost these college guys A LOT of money! And I am glad I know that, because it shows me their sweet heart towards us. It had been a surprise, and when they told us what it was, they were so adorably excited that it melted my heart! I couldn't help but say thanks! 

God wants us to see that all of the amazing things in our lives are a gift wrapped up from Him, given with all the joy and delight of a loving Father! He wants that so we will know how deeply He loves us. When we know this, we will know we can come to Him for and about anything. Oh, how He longs to just hold us and lift away from us anything that harms us!

Do you see now why He wants us to come with a heart of thanksgiving and not just words? Really, He wants us to come with a knowledge of how He feels about us. Because if we just come asking for more and more without realizing what we have, we will waste whatever more we get, and we will never realize the value. Worse, we will run right over His heart in the process.

Oh, beloved. This Thanksgiving season, ask God to reveal to your heart all that He does for you. You are going to see the most beautiful Savior who ever lived when you realize how kind and intentional He is towards you. Even if you have incurred major loss this year (maybe death of a loved one, a business gone bad, etc.), ask Him to show you where He was in all of that. Speak honestly to Him, knowing He cares about how you feel more than you do! I guarantee you will find a treasure that will multiply for ever!

Happy searching!