for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
So begins one of my favorite works by E.E. Cummings—a short
little poem filled with praise for the Creator and His magnificent works. I thought of it as Thanksgiving approached
and I began to focus on being grateful for all God has done this year. Thanksgiving has always been a hallmark of
God’s people. Thousands of years before the Pilgrims came to Plymouth and
shared a momentous feast with the Native Americans or Abraham Lincoln issued a
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation during the Civil War, God explained to the
Israelites the importance of offering praises for His blessings to them.
The Psalmist admonishes us in Psalm 100:4 “to Enter His
gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless
His name.” God wants us to praise Him not to stroke His ego, but because it
helps us focus on our dependence on Him as well as His overwhelming grace and
goodness. Praise recognizes God’s attributes—His goodness, love and mercy.
Remember He described Himself to Moses as “the compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).
Thanksgiving declares our awareness of His benefits. “I
have told the glad news of deliverance in the great
congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O
Lord. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken
of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your
faithfulness from the great
congregation" (Ps. 40:9-10)
In my church’s communion service called “The Great
Thanksgiving,” the responsive reading says: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.”
It is always right to praise our God who is so good and
kind and to offer thanks for His many gifts.
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