Thanks, God

This Thanksgiving, let's recognize God as the giver of all good gifts, and see all the good he has given. Here are a few things I'd like to thank him for . . .

Dear God,

Thank you. Thank you for life. Thank you for creating me—designing me for good purposes here on earth. Thank you for the beauty of your creation. Everything that has been created has been made by you:

In the beginning was the Word. and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him. Without Him, nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1–3, NIV)

Thank you for family, that great melting pot that teaches us so much about you–your constancy, your perfection, forgiveness, love . . .

And speaking of love . . . thank you for it. Kindness, compassion, patience, grace, encouragement, endurance, friendship—all these aspects of love you pour out on us. Good gifts—all of them—come from you: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). We know these things through connection with others. For all the bad in life, there's so much good to see. Thank you for it. Help us to see everything we have, and everything you intend for us.

Help us to seek you, acknowledge who you truly are, and let you to take your rightful place in our lives. Thank you for being God, for letting us know that we need you and that you love us—that we can't have real life apart from you. Like the contrast of darkness and light, separation from you means the absence of life. Thank you for providing a path, through Christ, to know you and gain life that's only found in you: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).

The one who loves you,

Kris

HOW ABOUT YOU?