It is hard to be thankful when. . .

It is so hard to be thankful this year.  We order out the bird for the oven (either to cook or reheat if we chose the precooked option).  We gather virtually with our families on screens (or maybe we will put out on the dining chairs the cut outs of the people we want to be with).  We will pray to God that He?She?It will deliver us from the shortages of toilet paper and meat that have taught us hoarding is good (or maybe we will pray in thanksgiving that we found the stuff to hoard!).  We will ask the Lord to speed up the vaccines and the willingness of people to be vaccinated but not so much that we feel safe (and we will permit the anti-vaxers their point of view as green and natural).

Or maybe we will sit down to an impossible turkey burger made of recycled vegan content and be content to sit before our screens thankful that we are not like others.

Friends, there is nothing so cold and unattractive about humanity as the failure to be grateful, the unwillingness to recognize where blessing is even in the midst of pandemic, and the secret contentment to be alone.

Say it and pray it and maybe a God will melt our stone cold hearts and build in us a temple of contentment as we survey His gracious favor.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

² O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

³ O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁴ To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁵ To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁶ To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁷ To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

⁸ The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

⁹ The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹⁰ To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹¹ And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹² With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹³ To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹⁴ And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹⁵ But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹⁶ To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹⁷ To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹⁸ And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

²⁰ And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

²¹ And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

²² Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

²³ Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

²⁴ And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

²⁵ Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

²⁶ O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.