“Rejoice always,pray continually,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).

400 years ago my great great great great great great great great great grandfather (it’s actually way more than that, but you get the idea) likely participated in the very first American Thanksgiving. William Brewster was a Mayflower minister who served as a pastor to the pilgrims at Plymouth (try saying that ten times fast).

The winter before that famous first Thanksgiving, half of the Mayflower passengers died. Can you imagine? Half of your community, friends and family members, gone in a matter of months. And yet, they had a feast for the purpose of giving thanks. Why? Because they chose to be grateful.

The first G in Thanksgiving stands for GRATITUDE. Gratitude is a choice, which is why the Apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonians to give thanks in all circumstances. Gratitude isn’t something that happens to us when things go our way, it’s something we choose because God has been faithful in the past, is faithful in the present, and will be faithful in the future. Even amid life’s most challenging seasons, the Lord deserves our thankfulness.

Dear God, thank you for our lives and for the many ways you’ve blessed us. Help us to be patient and to have perspective. Help us to remember your faithfulness, how you showed us love while we were yet sinners. Give us hearts that are truly grateful. Amen.