Thanksgiving a time to remember our blessings

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Imagine by disappointment when I learned that wasn’t really what happened-it wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving became an official annual holiday, more than 200 years after the very first Thanksgiving.

Thankfully, that information has not tempered my looking forward to this wonderful holiday (or my enjoyment of the accompanying meal).

Thanksgiving is a terrific reminder to each of us of just how blessed we are to live where and when we do. It’s also a time of the year when people are drawn to think of others instead of just themselves (also a good thing).

I have the privilege of having you read this just a few days prior to the big day (you’ve read this far, please stick with me for a few more paragraphs) and the opportunity to encourage you to consider adopting an attitude of appreciation, of giving thanks, that goes beyond simply spending a day with family recounting your blessings (and probably eating too much).

One way is to consider giving financial support to wonderful programs that help people worldwide like the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency; www.adra.org).

Organizations like these help not only during disasters but also in providing people tools to become more self-sufficient. ADRA has a wonderful catalog of ideas called “The Original Really Useful Gift Catalog” in which you can provide someone a goat, fresh drinking water, a sewing machine, inoculations, and more.

I’ve found it to be a great family activity to browse through the catalog and choose a project as a family.

I encourage you to checkout a Web site I recently ran across: www.globalrichlist.com. Simply enter in your annual salary and find how wealthy you are compared to the rest of the world.

For example in the census of 2000, Auburn had a median family income of $62,250, which (if you’re “average”) would make you the 54,272,800th richest person in the world and put you in the top 1 percent of the richest people in the world.

Locally, there’s the Interfaith Food Closet, Salvation Army, and Adventist Community Services that help those who are struggling to make ends meet.

During this season they provide meals and other services. The ministry I’m most familiar with (Adventist Community Services) provides a complete Thanksgiving meal to 55 families this next week, as well as providing food and clothing to 200-plus people on every Tuesday.

Why do people devote their time and money to causes like this? Why am I asking you to think about giving help and support? You’ve probably have heard Jesus’ statement that it’s more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35).

Those who take that to heart get to experience how giving is the only successful and sustainable antidote for selfishness.

And in a country where we have so much, it seems reasonable for us to help those that don’t “You shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7)

Auburn Seventh-day Adventist is at 12225 Rock Creek Road. Call (530) 885-4232.

Date published: November 20, 2006