Thanksgiving Day is a celebration rooted in European, specifically English, culture. It is a time to commemorate the harvest season and to give thanks for the earth's bounty. Traditionally, people thank God for a year of harvest and abundance.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the first official Thanksgiving Day in Canada was celebrated on November 6, 1879, although Indigenous peoples had long held their own harvest celebrations in autumn.
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October (in the USA, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November). During this season, it is customary to give thanks to God and invite family and friends to share in the blessings He has given.
There was only one particularly unique Thanksgiving, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the Canadian government requested that Thanksgiving be celebrated only with the immediate family.
However, as children of God, we should adopt a thankful attitude, not just on the second Monday of October or in November like in the USA, but every day of our lives.
"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)
Being thankful in all circumstances is God’s will for us. But why? Because without faith, it is impossible to please God. When God emphasizes something, it’s not because it’s important to Him, but because it’s important for us.
Gratitude demonstrates faith. The root of all sin is unbelief, and without faith, we cannot please or thank God. To be thankful is to trust that what we have or long for comes from Him. A grateful heart is full of faith—faith in someone who will always be there to care for us, provide for us, and love us unconditionally. Faith in Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us so that we may be saved and return to our Heavenly Father.
Therefore, today, on this Thanksgiving Day, there is much to be grateful for. As you sit at the table with your loved ones, don’t just give thanks for the food, but give thanks for everything God has done and continues to do in your life.
Written by Víctor Preza, based on the sermon of 12/10/2024.
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