I remember as a high school student going to Penguin Ice Cream here in Turlock. There was a wheel that you could spin and if you were lucky you would get great nourishment at a low price. It seems like every time I was there I would run into a Christian gentleman that was about 15 years older than me. I know that he was a Christian because he told me. The first time I saw him at Penguin he was a stranger to me. I simply said hello and how are you? His reply was, “Thankful!!!” No joke about the exclamation point. He definitely said “Thankful” with enthusiasm. The next time I saw him I just thought he was strange. Don’t get me wrong. I liked the guy and I would visit with him almost weekly but it just seemed weird. Sometime if I said “How are you?” he would say “Rejoicing!” I had never met anyone like this guy. He would actually answer the question “How are you?”. It felt so strange to me that I started to find other ways to greet him. I guess it made me feel like I was not a good Christian because I was “Fine Thank You”. (Note, no exclamation point)

Thankful! Could someone be thankful all the time? I guess it all depends on what you are thinking about. Yesterday was my daughter’s anniversary. Robin and I watched her wedding video. I saw myself walking my Princess down the isle and I blurted out how thankful I am that I was alive and able to make that walk on her wedding day. (About 4 years ago I almost checked out but God was not ready for my Earthly departure yet.)

I woke up this morning, Thanksgiving Day, 2012, thankful to be able to spend another holiday with my family. It just takes a little bit of thought to be thankful. Sometimes my thoughts don’t lead to thankfulness. It’s because I am too busy grumbling to myself about stuff. Small stuff. Stuff that does not even matter in the long run.
So here is a thought for Thanksgiving Day, 2012.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 (MSG)
Today Let your mind go to these places and you will find yourself thankful like my friend at Penguin Ice Cream.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Morri