Have you ever thought about the word Thanksgiving. It's a word that is pretty lame when you think about it. Two common words thrown together, almost forced together to form some new word. Think gigantic and enormous, what do you get? "Ginormous." What is that?
On the other hand "thanks" and "giving" are somewhat opposite of each other. "Thanks" would suggest we have received something. "Giving" says we are the ones who have given something we own (or possess) to someone else.
Brilliant! (at least to me) What a great mixed-up combo word!!! Although somewhat opposite, we know that by giving to others we often have a feeling of satisfaction and many times we are personally thanked for what we do. It makes us feel good to give. When we thank someone we may realize that it would be good sometime to do something nice for someone else. When someone gives to us, that makes us feel good so why not give to someone else and let them feel good as well?
The book of Acts says, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
On this Thanksgiving weekend remember the two words put together and remember the scripture above. You are blessed when you give. God blesses you when you give! Now don't just go giving to GET something from God. But realize the blessings you feel when you help someone are riches themselves. Thanks and giving, thanks and giving - go together like a horse and carriage, this I tell you brother, you can't have one without the other! (to steal from a popular song).
Happy Thanksgiving and get ready in preparation for the birth of Christ!
