Tip of My Iceberg

My friends Penny and Joe have a small farm in Colorado where they raise a variety of animals, including turkeys. The big guy will be on their table at Thanksgiving dinner. I know the president pardons a turkey or two at this time of year, a practice thought to have begun back when Abraham Lincoln’s son begged him not to kill the chosen turkey for dinner. Turkeys are usually not raised as pets but as a reliable meat source.

What’s fascinating is turkeys are actually more affable than many other animals that are kept as pets. They’re smart, they actually like people as well as other turkeys, and they have a playful nature that many of their human counterparts are missing. They’re social and curious in their behavior, which reflects a more docile nature. I’ve never cozied up to a turkey before, but I’ve had pets who were less friendly than these birds are touted as being.

I know turkey is the traditional meat served at Thanksgiving, but that wasn’t part of the original meal shared among Pilgrims and Native Americans. The meat would have been venison and fish, for there was quite a bounty of both in the area. Turkey didn’t become a staple until the early 19th century.

I marvel at the reality that turkeys are friendlier than most people. They have social values of being together and are genuinely curious about new birds on the block. Or in the pen.

At this time of year, when Thanksgiving is given center stage, choosing to be thankful for all that happens in our lives can be a stretch. Some people are bothered by things they have no control over. Others are dissatisfied with their jobs or are having issues with family or friends. Others are struggling with health of body, soul, and mind and find it a challenge to have gratitude about anything.

Holidays can be stressful. But having gratitude is a choice. It’s an attitude we choose in light of the reality that life is hard and won’t work on so many levels. God understands that being thankful changes the focus of our hearts.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Such statements sound impossible. Always be joyful–a choice to focus on what’s hopeful and good rather than be dependent on circumstantial happiness. Never stop praying–being open to God to talk to Him throughout the day, telling Him what I feel, what’s hard, what’s good. An ongoing conversation. Be thankful in all circumstances–it’s not looking at the world naively or through rose-colored glasses, but recognizing the sovereign goodness of God in the lives of those who love Him. Even in the hard trials and challenging circumstances.

Logic may make you question the wisdom of such an attitude. But consider what choosing hope over despair can do for your mindset. How it can change the focus of a hesitant heart. This isn’t convincing yourself to think positively.

It’s trusting God to be all He says He is for each of us. It’s believing He’s greater than our worst problems, significantly stronger than our mightiest fears, more powerful than our most destructive enemy.

He’s all that and more.

Be thankful, not just for today, but because you have Someone in your life who is thankful for you.

God sees you as His beloved.

Better than a friendly turkey any day.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!