Being Thankful by Doing Thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. While my Dad was alive it was the one holiday that I had to be home for, no exceptions. I could miss Christmas or Easter – but not Thanksgiving. It was the most significant holiday to my Dad, in part because he appreciated how simple and basic it is and that it centers on family, friends, and a meal. It is less complex than Christmas. There are no gifts to worry about, no cards to send. We are not bombarded with ads. Just relax and enjoy each other’s company by watching a football game, going for a walk or as simple as sitting and talking around the dining room table.

Another aspect of Thanksgiving I love, is that it is always politically correct to wish someone a “Happy Thanksgiving”. Virtually all faiths – Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. have the tradition of giving thanks.

Giving thanks is often expressed only in words. We value a person’s good manners or deeds by the words “thank you.” We’ve been taught since we were old enough to talk the importance of saying “thank you.” We taught our children from the time they could put a crayon to paper, the importance of a thank you note. But there are times when saying or writing “thanks”, although important, isn’t enough. Being thankful by “doing” thanks is needed and essential for being a Christian.

We can say thanks to those who help us, and we can pay it forward by helping others. If we have good health, we can use that health to help someone who has failing health. If we are good with children, we can offer to babysit for a frazzled parent or coach a youth sports team. If we are blessed with a little extra time, we can welcome home our returning military at the airport and thank them for their service. If we have a good education, we can tutor a struggling student. If we have life experiences that we learned the hard way, we can share those experiences with others to help them on their paths.

The story in the Bible regarding Mary and the anointing at Bethany (John 12:1-8) is an example of doing thanks. Jesus had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. For Mary giving thanks in any traditional way was not going to be enough. She felt compelled to express herself by ‘doing thanks’ – lavishing on Jesus a gift that, as Judas pointed out, could have been put to better use. Hers was an extravagant act of love. Pouring out a whole pound of “costly perfume” to anoint Jesus’ feet.  Lazarus was more than a brother to Mary and Martha and a dear friend to Jesus. If the women were dependent on their brother as the male head of their household, his death would have had devastating consequences for them. Women with no male relative to speak on their behalf, or to look after them, often ended up homeless or were forced into prostitution in order to survive. With their brother’s second chance for life, both Mary and Martha did indeed have much to be thankful for; raising Lazarus was an act of mercy and compassion. Her response to Jesus’ compassion was her extravagant act of love – pouring out the best of what she had to give. Judas saw it as a waste; but Jesus saw it for what it was.

Being thankful by doing thanks can be as simple as doing a little bit more.

In Genesis (24:10-20) there is a great example of going above and beyond, “doing a little bit more,” as we serve others.  Some scholars call it “the Rebekah principle”. It’s the story of the selection of a wife for the Jewish Patriarch, Isaac. As was the custom in that time, Abraham had sent his chief servant to find the right woman from his home country. At the end of a long day of travelling, the servant arrived at a well. A young woman named Rebekah came to draw water and the servant posed a simple request for a drink of water. She not only drew water for him, but willingly drew water for his 10 camels as well. A thirsty camel can drink up to 30 gallons of water in 10 minutes, such an offer would take considerable time, measured in hours, not minutes; yet Rebekah did so willingly. The result of Rebekah being willing to do more than was required of her was that she became the wife of Isaac. A wonderful transformation occurs in her life that was born out of her mindset of selflessness to a stranger.

From Lou Vickery, a Talk Radio Host and former Professional Baseball Player; “Four little words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.”

In the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 41, we read the basis for a phrase we use all the time in our English language: “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Jesus is talking about testimony, about “going the extra mile.” At this time in history, a Roman citizen could approach anyone in the conquered territory to commandeer their time and effort, that person was “compelled to go one mile” (interesting in that mile markers were created during this time in history). But Jesus was saying “Do ‘a little bit more!’”

This season of Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to reflect on our lives as people of faith, and ask ourselves, “What are the ways in which we can be thankful?” Not only by giving and saying thanks, but in living out what we believe as Christians. Will we do as Jesus asks and go the extra mile? Will we serve ‘the dusty traveler’ as Rebekah did? Can we give God the very best of who we are – pouring out our lives in service to make this world more like God intends for it to be – knowing that we may well be criticized for it like Mary? Will we honor ‘the least of our brothers’ by doing thanks be to God?

Let thanks be always on our lips and, more importantly, in our deeds. Being thankful by doing thanks is the best way of giving thanks.

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