Thanksgiving Every Dayਨਮੂਨਾ

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

Colossians 3:12–15

It’s impossible to think about the Thanksgiving holiday without considering the Thanksgiving dinner. The main dish may take center stage, but it wouldn’t feel complete without all the sides—the family favorites that make the meal what it is. We expect to see mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, rolls, and pie. Without them, the table would seem strangely bare.

In the same way, there are “sides” that naturally accompany a thankful heart. Gratitude doesn’t stand alone; it’s served best with other graces—peace, love, and forgiveness. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3 that thanksgiving and peace belong together, each enriching the other in the life of a believer.

Paul was in a jail cell in Rome when he wrote,“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

Our circumstances do not dictate either our gratitude or our peace. Those are totally up to us. We can choose in any situation to be grateful and thankful for God’s work in our lives, or we can complain and gripe and become bitter. But if we take that approach, we are forfeiting God’s peace.

Being properly thankful for all God has done produces peace that cannot be taken away.