Lessons on Thanksgiving from Grandma
I was blessed to grow up with two amazing Grandmothers who had a big impact on my life. Grandma Payne was a Dairy and Grain farmer in Central Alberta who raised 9 kids and had 22 grandchildren. I loved spending time on the farm with her and my other relatives. She had a hard life growing up with very little and raised her own family when times were tough, but she was always thankful and joyful.
Grandma always had a huge garden to help provide for her family, and I remember being out in the Raspberry patch with her one day (she was picking and I was eating!) when I was in my teens. I was worried about the crops that summer as we were heading for a poor harvest due to little rain. She very calmly said to me “don’t worry my boy, God never leaves us with nothing!”. Those words, her faith, and her thankful attitude have stuck with me my entire life.
I am thankful daily for God’s care, provision, and guidance in my life and the life of my family. The first thing I do when I wake up is thank God for the new day and commit it to Him. Why is this so important? Living with a heart of thanksgiving is key because it acknowledges that we understand God’s role in our lives. It shows we believe that He will provide, that He controls our promotion, that our finances belong to Him.
“And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus” 1Thessalonians 5:18
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend take time to thank God for His care and provision in your life. If you have been blessed with many positive developments this year then give Him the credit and acknowledge His hand in your life. If you have had a hard year then thank Him for walking with you through it and continue to ask Him for strength, guidance and provision.
As we seek to be faithful financial stewards this attitude of thanksgiving is essential to our success. Wherever we are on the journey there are things to be thankful for. If you are just starting to apply God’s principles to your finances, then thank Him for the over 2300 verses He has provided to help you get on track. If you are already well on your way to financial freedom God’s way, then thank Him for the progress you have made and ask Him to use you to help others.
In spite of everything I have to be thankful for I find the enemy tries to steal my joy by getting me to focus on what I don’t have, what I have not accomplished, how I don’t measure up to others, etc., but when this happens we have to intentionally turn our thoughts around to focus on our walk with God.
I will be enjoying smoked turkey and all the fixings this weekend with some of my family. My list of things to be thankful for is immense, and it starts with my relationship with Jesus, my incredible wife, our children and grandchildren, our friends, and all that God allows us to do in service to Him.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Todd Payne