Gò0dNews for Everyone
Thinking And Thanking by Dorothy Teague
I
have such fond memories of Thanksgiving around the
becomes the “lamp to my feet and the light to my path”
dinner table with all my family. My mother made it so
(Psalm 119:105). There is a prescription for our happiness
special for us, with all kinds of foods to feast upon. The
within His Word. Philippians 4:8 says, “…whatever is true,
smell of turkey and sage dressing filled the house. We were
right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy,
a farm family, so we knew what hard work was. We were
think about such things.” In other words, fill up your mind
thankful for when the tobacco crop turned out well, or when
with good things so that you are thankful, and then you
we had enough hay to feed the cows.
don’t have time to have a pity party. (I’m not saying that I’m
It’s hard to believe that in one short month, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving again with our loved ones. But
good at doing this all the time.) There has to be a daily renewing of our minds so that we don’t give up when the bad days come (Romans 12:1). There’s a little piece of a verse in Acts 26:2 which says, “I think myself happy,” in which Paul is saying he’s happy he’s going to get to defend himself against charges brought against him. But when I read that verse, I thought, Yes! We should THINK ourselves happy until we become happy! If we constantly think on negative things, we will start speaking negatively. If we act on those thoughts for very long, it becomes a habit. I really have to work hard at not falling into negative behavior. But Proverbs 23:7 spells it out plainly: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
with the way 2020 has gone so far, I shudder to imagine
What you dwell on gets into your spirit, and you become
what might happen in our country before then. It’s good
what you think. It will show on your face, in your talk, and
to have a day set aside to celebrate being thankful, but we
in your walk. Whatever you put in your heart or your spirit
don’t have to wait for the calendar to show us when to be
will come out of your mouth (Matthew 12:34).
thankful. We can thank the Lord for what He has brought us through already, seen and unseen. It’s easy to be thankful on the “good days,” but to thank
Just like the familiar, “You are what you eat,” the same can be said for, “You are what you think.” Giving thanks to the Father will keep your mind renewed, keep your heart
Him on the “not-so-rosy- days” is a challenge. A lot of
moving toward closer communion with Him, and make
events in my life read like a soap opera, and I tend to want
every day a happy Thanks-giving day!
are the times that I seem to seek God more. God’s Word
38 // November 2020
About The Author
to rebel when life doesn’t go the way I planned it. Those Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.
