The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

A Thankful Heart Makes a Joyful Spirit

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

November 23, 2016

Sitting in "our family pew" of my Presbyterian Church during the Community Thanksgiving Service this past Sunday evening gave me a tremendous feeling of thankfulness and really filled me with joy.

You look around, and though my family pew is now just me and my husband Michael, and many pews are empty as families have passed on, it reminded me of all the friends who have encouraged and loved me over the years, and prayed for me, who were not family by birth, but are church family by God's design.... brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lutheran Minister, Pastor Terry Muller, asked what each of us were thankful for. There were so many things-family, a country we can freely worship in, a warm home, food on our tables, good weather for harvest, the familiar church hymns, our organist, our community, good health, our military, a President who acknowledges we are "one nation under God."

My answer was, "I am most thankful for my religious heritage." You can gain all kinds of knowledge in this world, but wisdom comes only from God. It makes all the difference in everything.

Pastor Karna Peterson of the United Methodist Church gave a wonderful message on "thanksgiving".

We grumble so much, but did you know the pilgrams at the first thanksgiving and the Indians had very little if anything, yet they were thankful.

Pastor Peterson reminded that there was no social security or medicare.

Of course we know there were a trillion other things they did not have-no unemployment, no Internet, and no communication devices, washers, dryers, refrigerators, doctors, hospitals, money, or stores to spend it in if they did, yet they were gathering together to give thanks to God for what they had.

Pastor Peterson said what they did have was: Initative, courage, willingness to work and a boundless faith in God.

I especially enjoyed the example she gave of how we grumble too much at God instead of being thankful for what he has given us.

A man told a guide how generous God was to produce both a hot springs and a cold springs so close together that people could wash their clothes so easily. "I bet there is not much grumbling."

The guide replied, "but there was-there's no soap!"

The "Thanksgiving List" of Pastor Peterson's said it all Thankful for "taxes" it means we have a job, for "gutters to clean," it means we have a home, high utility bills, it means we have heat and lights.

When we look at what we have and not what we don't, we can have a joyful heart. It's a good thing to bring into the Christmas season.

Our 2016 Christmas book this year is CHRISTMAS IN THESE UNITED STATES.

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