My personal challenge for Advent has been to be thankful. As I prayed before Advent began, God kept bringing to my mind that one day a year is just not enough “Thanksgiving”. I was lead to 1Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances”. The words “thank you” are easy to say, I say them all the time. God is teaching me not to be so glib with them, saying them so easily, but to mean them wholeheartedly when I do say thank you. And since God’s lessons have always enriched my life–made me a better person when I followed them, I decided to sincerely make an effort to be truly grateful. God teaches us so that we can share our blessings. With one more week before Christ-mas, I offer you a blessing. I challenge you to spend the last week of Advent giving thanks to God for everything that happens as you partake in your final preparations for Christmas–(that includes everything that falls upon you)!

It’s easy to be grateful for food and shelter, love and friendship, peace and good health, Christmas cookies, and presents. But what about the sticky stuff, our aches and pains, our isolation and missing traditions, depression, grief, failure, loss? But St. Paul instructs us to give thanks in ALL things, not just the good or easy! How can I possibly be thankful for the times that turn my life upside down and inside out? We pray asking God to fix this, heal that person, release me from this situation, let them know how they hurt me, get rid of this virus. I need to get my baking, shopping, wrapping all done–and this traffic is ridiculous, this kid is whiny, the store was out of what I have to have and Amazon can’t get it to me on time, I want to be with my family! Come on God, can’t you lead me out of this pain and bring me to the joy at the top of the mountain. I’ve got things to accomplish, I don’t have time for all this heartache and I am sick of wearing this mask. Why won’t you answer my prayer???

I have a few things that I have really struggled “feeling” thankful for. I soul searched seeing nothing positive about them to say thank you for.As I struggled, I came across a prayer that has helped me to, at least, give thanks, based on faith in St. Paul’s words. “Father, I don’t know why you are causing, or allowing, this difficult thing to happen, but I’m going to give thanks in it because You ask me to. I’m going to trust You to have a purpose for it that I can’t know and may never know. Bottom line, You’re God–and that’s good enough for me!” Has it made the issues go away or turn around–no, but I thank God for them everyday, on faith, May His Will Be Done! It’s getting a bit easier to say thank you and I am starting to experience a little peace about them. I am trusting and relying on God more and I can certainly be thankful for that!

Why have I accepted this as my Advent challenge…well, here’s the entire verse: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Who am I to resist…He is God–I am not! Thank you, Lord God, through Jesus Christ, with the grace of the Holy Spirit! If you have decided to accept my challenge, I would love to hear your experience with 1Thessalonians 5:18, if you feel led to share it. Regardless, may the rest of your Advent be a thankful one and help prepare you for a holy and blessed Christmas!