by Rev. Ralen M. Robinson
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We are called as beloved children of God to live in thankfulness during every season of our lives. This month, we gather near and far to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family, chosen family, friends, co-workers, and our siblings in Christ from all walks of life. For a day or a long weekend, most of us will spend time with our loved ones, break bread with one another, and create memories. For 24 hours, our social media content and culture will remind us to show gratitude, give thanks, and share in generosity with one another.
Thanksgiving is a time of tradition and making new traditions. It’s a time of Thanksgiving parades streaming on TVs and the glorious meals being prepared in the kitchen as the sweet aromas of turkey and pies waft through the house, carrying a looming sense of family and profound memories. And yet, for most of us, we only carve out the time for gratitude once a year on the fourth Thursday of November.
What if we were graciously thankful every day? What if we cared for the stranger like a neighbor? And what if there were no special days in our calendar to give back because every day, we celebrated like it was the fourth Thursday of the month?
We are called to be friends to strangers, be gracious at every step, whether good or bad, and still give thanks when we are operating off of little sleep, full schedules, partner obligations, parent responsibilities, and so on. The day to give thanks and to give should be an everyday occurrence. We should always strive to be a person that cares and loves just as Christ loves us.
We are called to give thanks! We are called to look upon the broken and fractured world and see God in its cracking, holding it and piecing us together. The thanks and praise reside not solely on a particular day but every day. We are called to see God in the mundane, in the joy, and as well as in the misery. We are called to extend Christ’s steps to the least of these and the forgotten in our society. To embody the radical love Christ speaks of in the synoptic gospels that tell us to care for one another and show compassion. Thanksgiving should be every day with the sweet, sweet aroma of grace-filled love that God wraps us up. That is given when we fail and falter. That is the guiding force for carrying out the mission of God.
So, as I peer out at the people in my life—the ones I call family, beloved congregation, friends, colleagues, and strangers turned friends—I am blessed beyond measure. I have people in my life who love and care for me. I have communities that pray and uplift me. And I have deep friendships with people from all walks of life who bless me with their wisdom. So, as you wake up tomorrow, remember to be a little thankful and then share that thanks to the people you encounter in the world on the daily. Allow thankfulness to be a state of being.
Ralen M. Robinson is a pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan. When she is not pastoring, she is pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry in Homiletics, serving as a board member of Child Protective Services of Sedgwick County, and participating in leadership roles in the wider church. Ralen believes her faith and a good pair of shoes can take you a long way.
Your gifts to Women of the ELCA: Where Needed Most make resources like this website possible. Please give generously. Thank you.
Give online or mail your check to:
Women of the ELCA
Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1809
Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
Thank you!