1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Today is Thanksgiving. As I sat down this morning to consider the blessings of this year – some enjoyed, some endured – I realized I do not have words that adequately express the fullness of the bounty that has been poured out upon me and my loved ones. August L. Storm beautifully expresses thanksgiving in everything with words that speak for me and to the deepest places in my heart.

Thanks to God

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!

On this day, let us be reminded to give thanks for the good and bad – the beautiful and the ugly – the easy and the hard – the full and the empty. Because of God’s great love for us, he has brought us low and high that we might rejoice in His faithful presence giving thanks for His inexpressible gift.

In everything give thanks!