Don’t Be Like Your Dog
“A little lad of six was invited out to lunch in a neighbor’s home. As soon as all were seated at the table the food was served. The little boy was puzzled, and, with a child’s frankness, asked, “Don’t you say a prayer before you eat?” The host was uncomfortable, and mumbled, “No, we don’t take time for that.” The lad thought silently for a while, and said, “You’re just like my dog! You start right in.””
Don’t be like your dog on Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks to the Lord.
One of my favorite things to do each holiday season is to watch Charlie Brown and his talented dog, Snoopy. One of the best yearly reminders of God’s blessing to early America can be seen in Charles Schultz’ rendition of the Pilgrims coming over on the Mayflower, meeting Chief Massasoit and Squanto and sitting down to dinner and giving thanks to God for surviving the brutal and deadly winters they were unprepared for. With little food, a majority of the settlers buried, and with great uncertainty facing the future, they stopped everything to praise and thank the Lord.
It has been said that being truly “thankful” involves “giving.” After all, the word Thanksgiving is a compound word; and both “Thanks” and Giving” are words rich with meaning. Grateful people are happy people. Have you ever seen a complaining, grumbling person? Sure. Are they happy? No. We are most happy when we have thankful attitudes, grateful words, and gracious actions. If you are consistently giving praise and thanks to the Lord, you will be less likely to be critical, self absorbed, and feeling negative about life.
We need to be like the Apostle Paul who said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The early Christians living in the city of Thessalonica were challenged and encouraged to give thanks in everything in life. Every life stage. Every circumstance. Every weather event. Every electoral cycle. Every season of life. Every start to the week. In. Everything. Give. Thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving! Thank-you for reading these devotionals. I am grateful for each reader and pray that these postings will be a help to you.
(Snoopy rendition by Charles Schulz, from internet search)
EDC Christian 