Thanksgiving

Today is our annual Thanksgiving celebration.

Lots of food, family get-togethers and football.

One of the rituals that has evolved out of this day is the question, "What are you thankful for"?

We've gone through this ritual so often, at home, at church, at school, in our small groups, etc., that I wonder if we give enough thought to our answers.

Do we just give the quick, usual, expected responses, or do we take time to examine ourselves, our lives, and our circumstances before we answer?

Are we truly thankful or have we become complacent, living day to day with the assumption that the people and things we desire to have around us will always be there? How much do we take for granted? Who do we take for granted? Are we thankful for the challenges we face? Are we thankful for our failures, the difficult circumstances that provide an opportunity to grow? Are we thankful for the little things in our lives or are they something that we expect to be there because we're entitled to them?

How sincere are we in the thanks we raise to God and the people in our lives?

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Our kids are coming over for thanksgiving later today. Heidi has asked me to ask this question, "What are you thankful for"? We want to initiate a conversation that goes deeper than frivolous talk about 'Glee', 'Big Bang Theory', the Winnipeg Jets, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 'World of Warcraft', etc.

How deep will we go?

Do I have more than a ritualistic response?