Rev. Mike Henning
Walkersville United Methodist Church

(11/1) The month of November is synonymous with being thankful with Thanksgiving Day being the main reason such feelings and emotions come to the forefront of our thoughts. However, "give thanks with a grateful heart" …should be more than some words to a song. Expressions of grateful thanks to God should be in our hearts, on our minds, and coming from our mouths – every day. Praising God and thanking Him for all the blessings He freely gives to each of us should not be limited to one day, or only to a particular season of the year. Every day an attitude of gratitude should stir within us giving praise and thanksgiving to our Creator.

With this being said, I realize there are times in each of our lives when we go through difficult circumstances, and may find it hard to give thanks or be grateful, and that is understandable. Those who are in the midst of struggles, trials, and tribulations be it physical, financial, emotional, or mental wellness concerns, just to name a few, can be overwhelmed to the point of not feeling grateful or thankful. Especially if the person has been dealing with such things for weeks, months, or even years.

All of us deal with some not-so-pleasant stuff on some level and to some degree along life’s journey, it is called life. The way we deal (or do not deal) with such issues can have a great effect on our outlook on life in general. I have witnessed over the years in ministry and in life, folks who rise above their situations and are able to give praise and thanks to the Lord in all things and circumstances. Then there are those who have difficulty coping with a relatively minor issue most would not even give a second thought about.

The difference between these two illustrations… perspective and attitude. Generally speaking, the person with a strong faith is usually the one who sees the glass half full or completely full even in their time of anguish and pain, and still able to praise God and be thankful. The one without such a foundation seems to struggle in many areas of life.

May we all reach out to our compassionate, loving God in those times of need, understanding He is as close as a prayer away, and be thankful. And let us never forget as we are in the throes of good times and celebrations to pause and express our gratitude to Him as well.

I believe enough said about that subject, let’s move on to another important day in November in which we should also express our thankfulness, which is Veteran’s Day. We must never forget the great sacrifices the many women and men have made throughout the years for the causes that identify our great nation. And for the protection our service members give so we can enjoy all of the freedoms we have (and most likely take for granted) as individuals. Every chance we get we should thank a veteran for their service time in the military. Like I stated earlier, this needs to be done not just on Veteran’s Day, or during a special ceremony honoring our veterans – but every day.

Why should we express our gratitude and thanks to our veterans? I’m glad you asked. Many will carry with them throughout their lives the events they witnessed and experienced during their tour(s) of duty. Some come home with physical wounds, scars, and injuries that with remain with them forever. And there are countless other men and women who served who bear emotional and mental scars and wounds that they also face daily that may never go away. These are just two examples of why veterans are deserving of our expressions of thanks and gratefulness for the role they participated in on behalf of the rest of us.

As far as I am concerned, it doesn’t matter whether a person enlisted or was drafted, whether they served during conflict and wartime or peacetime. It doesn’t matter if they were in the thick of the action and in harm’s way, or far away from such threats. What does matter, let me repeat, what does matter; each veteran, active service member, and those who paid the ultimate price defending and representing our country, be given the respect and dignity that is due them – every day!

Sadly, over the years many holidays like Thanksgiving Day, Veteran’s Day, and other special days of importance have been diminished, or the emphasis has shifted and been reduced to a day of ‘sales’ which has nothing to do with the purpose or intent of the day in question, except to mention it as a marketing tool. Each of us can do our part in restoring the original purpose of honoring our veterans, and thanking God for the many bounteous blessings He gives to us every day. Don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to sales and getting a bargain. But don’t use the sacrifices of others or the goodness of our God to try and sell a mattress or electronic devices.

The Bible is full of powerful and meaningful passages to remind us of the countless blessings God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit gives to us freely through their love and grace. Psalm 100 is but one example of giving thanks and praise to God. "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Amen

Be thankful to God for His rich bounty of blessings – every day. May God keep our service members safe, and bring them all back home soon. God bless you, our veterans who have served our nation. Thank you for your service. Finally, we remember and give thanks to those who paid the ultimate price with their lives protecting our freedoms. May God continue to bless us all. Happy Thanksgiving, and celebrate Veteran’s Day.

Walkersville United Methodist Church is located at 22 Main Street, Walkersville. Our Sunday worship service is at 10 a.m., with Sunday School offered during that time. The worship service can also be viewed on our Facebook page, and YouTube. For more information about our church visit our website, walkersvilleumc.org.