Volume 26, Issue 4
Page 16
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Learning To Give Thanks
By Emily Myers August 2025
God’s presence! It reorients our hearts. It reminds us who He is — and who we are not. But giving thanks isn’t al- ways easy. 1 Thessaloni- ans 5:18 tells us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of
pushes God aside — even in holidays that were originally established to honor Him — we can make a dif- ference when we chose to give thanks and put God first. Our Thanksgiv- ing season is still a way off, but
thanks to the One who gives us all good things every season of the year. Not just once a year, but as a daily rhythm of worship. Because when we truly under- stand that every breath is a gift, gratitude becomes not just a re- sponse, but a way of living. Emily Myers and her husband, Daniel, live on a small farm in Mis- souri where they homeschool their seven children. Emily is a Certified Professional Midwife. Together, Emily and Daniel co-authored “Expres- sions of Thanksgiving,” a family de- votional designed to cultivate hearts of gratitude through Scripture, song, and reflection. Daniel also illustrated the book with his original artwork.
It all started simply. I wanted my children to understand what Thanksgiving is truly about — not just the food and decorations, but the meaning behind it. Like many families, we loved the traditions, but I sensed we were missing some- thing deeper. I began jotting down verses, stories, songs, and thoughts to help us refocus our hearts. And somewhere in the process, I realized something unexpected: I had more to learn about thankful- ness than I thought. It’s easy to treat giving thanks like a seasonal idea — something we pull out with the autumn decor, tucked between Halloween and Christmas. But as I studied Scrip- ture and reflected more intention- ally, I saw that thankfulness is far more than a holiday theme. It’s a way of life. And it’s something we’re called to practice not just in the good times, and not just when we are given a gift, but in all things. We live in a fast-paced world. Even our holidays can be hurried and full of distraction. Thanksgiving, despite being one of the least com- mercialized of our national celebra- tions, often gets crowded out by busyness. We plan meals, manage schedules, cook, clean, host, and try to make it meaningful — but how often do we really pause to give thanks to God in the midst of it? Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” Giv- ing thanks is how we enter into
ing it for good. The more I’ve meditated on these truths, the more I see how thanks- giving shapes my soul. It humbles me. It softens me. It helps me rec- ognize God’s hand in both the big moments and the small mercies — like laughter around the dinner table, a quiet sunrise, or the strength to get through a hard day. One of the definitions of thanks- giving from Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is this: “A public cele- bration of divine goodness.” That phrase has stayed with me. When we choose to give thanks — especially in front of our children, our friends, and our communities — we are publicly celebrating God’s faithfulness. When we put aside other activities and prioritize worship, when we bow our heads and pray at a restaurant, when in our daily live our children see that we take time for prayer and Bible study, we are testifying that He is worthy of praise, no matter our situation. And in a world that so often
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” That little phrase — “in every thing” — challenges us deeply. It’s natural to thank God for the obvious blessings: a warm home, healthy children, answered prayers. But what about the hard things? The things we didn’t ask for and don’t understand? Scripture reminds us that true thanksgiving isn’t rooted in circum- stances — it’s rooted in trust. We can give thanks in all things when we believe God is who He says He is — faithful, loving, sovereign, and good. Even in seasons of grief, hardship, or waiting, we can look up and say, “God, I trust You. I thank You. I believe You’re working, even in this.” Romans 8:28 assures us that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” It doesn’t say all things feel good, but that God can use everything for our good and His glory and I don’t know about you, but this is something that I am so very thankful for. The knowledge that whatever my circumstance — God knows the end and He is work-
these concepts are relevant all year. Don’t get me wrong, I am so glad that we have a holiday specifically focused on giving thanks to God, but I invite you to join me in making it a habit to reflect, praise, and give
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