Even When the Turkey Burns, Remember God is Good
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”
Psalm 136:1
As a child, whenever I received a gift, I would hear my parents’ voices echo, “When someone gives you a gift, what do you say?” and my response, along with my sisters, would always be a harmonious “thank you!” Of course, my parents would nod with a smiling approval. Naturally, when I became a mother, I passed on this sense of gratitude and appreciation to my little ones.
Gratitude is a sign of love. It’s a way to show honor. It’s a human right of passage. The words “thank you” can be a powerful way to let someone know that they are seen and loved. Interestingly, the gift-giver is always on the receiving end of gratitude, but what if gratitude wasn’t about giving or receiving? What if gratitude was more about the person than the gift?
In Psalm 136:1, the Psalmists propose another reason to give thanks. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Here, the Psalms reflect on the character of God. It is the Lord’s loving kindness that brings forth gratitude and praise. Similarly, our gratitude for the Lord should not be based on what He does for us or how He provides for us, but rather on who He is—and who He is good!
The fact that the Psalms focus on this aspect of God’s character, His goodness, is fundamental to all that He is and does. The great Charles Spurgeon said, “Because He is good, He deserves constant gratitude from His people.” When we base our thankfulness on God’s character—His goodness and kindness —gratitude will always be our response because we know that everything He does flows from who He is – a good, kind, and loving Father.
Sister friend, today you might find more reasons to be upset than to be glad. Maybe the turkey didn’t turn out as well as you hoped. Perhaps that “annoying” family member decided to arrive way earlier than planned. Or maybe there’s an empty seat at your Thanksgiving table this year. Whatever the challenge is, try to reflect and remember His goodness and lovingkindness. Life can sometimes be unexpectedly challenging – the kind where you just want to crawl into a corner and disappear. But even then, may you and I remember that the Lord doesn’t change. And if we can’t find any reason to be grateful this Thanksgiving, let’s look to Jesus and His goodness. He is good; therefore, everything is good!
Questions for Reflection:
- Think of a time when you felt truly grateful for who someone is, rather than what they did for you. How did that deepen your sense of love or connection?
- How does focusing on God’s unchanging goodness (rather than His actions or provisions) differ from the way you typically practice gratitude? What might change if you made this your starting point?
- Consider a blessing in your life (big or small). How can you trace it back to God’s character rather than just the outcome? What does this reveal about basing gratitude on “who He is”?
- This holiday season, commit to one daily practice of gratitude focused solely on God’s character (not your blessings). What attribute will you reflect on, and how do you anticipate it sustaining you through disappointments?