The Attitude Of Gratitude ... by Craig Ruhl

As we approach the day when most Americans commemorate a holiday referred to as Thanksgiving, let’s reflect on that term and how it relates to each of us. My Merriam-Webster Collegiate dictionary offers three definitions for the word thanksgiving:

1. a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

2. the act of giving thanks

3. a prayer expressing gratitude

Looking at these definitions, I believe that the act of giving thanks can be both public and private. We certainly have commercialized the holiday, especially in North America. A quick gaze around most retail stores or neighborhood lawns and porches reveals a diverse and extensive offering of decorations to help celebrate the day. Homey sayings and Bible verses adorn wall hangings and fill social media memes. Couple that with fall and autumnal themes–hay bales, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and of course, all that seasonal food! It can be overwhelming, and it often distracts from the core concept of giving thanks.

The first time I see the concept of a thanksgiving event mentioned in the Bible is in Leviticus 7:11- 36. These passages refer to the peace or fellowship offering. What is interesting about this law and the thanksgiving meal of Israel is that, for the first time, it included direct fellowship between the people, the priest, and God. Deuteronomy 12:10-19 offers similar instructions to the people of Israel on how they should celebrate and share food with each other and the Lord. This was a time when the people were joined with God and not separated from Him, as was the custom in most sacrifice rituals. I can see the similarity in the concept of those biblical fellowship feasts and our modern-day Thanksgiving meals. The act of giving thanks takes many forms. Meals, celebrations, and fellowship are just a few.

The third definition offered in my dictionary is a prayer expressing gratitude. This is where I would like to focus our attention. What are we grateful for and how do we best express it? To whom do we offer our thanks and gratitude? Let’s start at the beginning because that is a very good place to start (with thanks to Mary Poppins).

Jesus gave thanks to the Father before serving the multitudes and at the last supper. His prayers included recognizing God as supreme and as the provider of everything. He even taught us how we should pray. Interestingly, The Lord’s Prayer doesn’t specifically instruct us in giving thanks. Jesus was instructing His disciples on how to pray to counteract the way the Pharisees and Gentiles were praying, and this prayer was a guideline. The attitude of prayer is thankfulness, and the more we pray, the more thankful we become. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (NKJV) The attitude of gratitude that I refer to in the heading of this article is not just a calendar day event or a once-in-a-while thought process. Rather, it is, or needs to be, ingrained in our very being. Our default response to life should be to give thanks for what we have and not lament what we may lack. Please allow me to share a personal example of how this happened to me this year.

I was hospitalized because of a gastric-intestinal bleed that resulted in a significant loss of blood over the course of 3 days. Testing showed where the bleeds were and an interventional vascular doctor was able to cauterize and stop the bleeding. I was very anemic and had lost quite a lot of weight in just a few days. This placed a severe strain on my heart, which already was impaired by chronic heart disease and a faulty aortic valve. Dire straits would be an appropriate term to describe my situation. Lying in the hospital bed, I suddenly had immense pressure on my chest, accompanied by severe pain. I was being monitored and the bells and whistles from the machine sounded. As I struggled to push the nurse call button, my thoughts were that I was having a heart attack, and I was in trouble. The staff rushed to my bedside and then ran down the hall, pushing and pulling me and my bed to the ICU. The nurse holding my hand kept repeating, “calmly keep breathing. In through your nose and out through your mouth.” I fixed my mind on two things: breathing and God. I knew I was on a precipice and in His hands. God was directing the medical teams that surrounded me. (continued on next page)

My continual prayer was that His will be done in my life. I gave thanks for all I had been allowed to experience on this earth, and I especially gave thanks for my wife, Karen, who was on her way but not yet at the hospital. I asked that if it was His will, I would like to keep on living, but if it was not, then I was ready to go to my true home with Him. For several days, I was in in critical condition and my thoughts and prayers centered on being thankful. I had an attitude of gratitude, if you will.

Eight months later, I feel great. My heart valve has been replaced and what a miracle that was and remains. Over and over, I give thanks to God, always to Him first and foremost. Yes, there are many others I am grateful for and I pray for them as well. But, I pray only TO Him! For me, every day is a day of thanksgiving.

Lord, please hear my prayers and know my gratitude for you and all you provide. Thank you for your grace and mercy, which I have done nothing to deserve. As long as I live, may I sing your praises and share your love with all.

Craig Ruhl