This is a holiday that is supposed to be about remembering the providence of God and the helping hands of humans reaching out in love to help one another. It's not exactly about remembering to be thankful in all things and at all times. It's not about the food, or family, or....even football. It's a remembering a time of such need and misery that it appeared that death was near and unavoidable. Things got so bad everyone involved thought they would die. Then, because of the providence of God and people helping when they had no reason other than goodness and mercy to do so, the people survived. It's not about feeling good and mushy about family or remembering how easy we have it.
It's actually about the hard times. The misery. The my life got this bad in this area and that area and I just knew I couldn't survive. I thought surely I would die. But God. But God and this person or that person helped me, and I am still here. I made it through the valley of the shadow of death. Spring is not fully here, there may be a few more cold spells and freezes (the first Thanksgivings were in February), but winter is fading, spring is coming, and I have hope.
Today let us not try to pretend that the darkness isn't there in the shadow, let us not try to manufacture wonder and gratitude at how good life is while deep inside feeling it hasn't been or isn't so grand. Let us acknowledge the truth of just how harsh the winter has been, how close to death we have come, and especially the But God. But God. We are still here. But God, there is hope for a better tomorrow. But God, we did not die and will not die yet. And let us remember that in order for God to use people to bless others, to be His hands, we need to be willing to be those hands.
Oh, one last thing, if this doesn't apply to you, and you haven't had those bleak and dark moments when you thought you would die or wished you would, then hallelujah. By all means rejoice for you have been truly and richly blessed. But those of us who have walked through, and lived in hell on earth, should have an even easier time realizing how much we have to be thankful for rather than a harder time. Doesn't the cool water feel more refreshing and wonderful after the struggle in and with the hear? Happy Thanksgiving.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
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