Some years, holidays like Thanksgiving are more of a sacrifice than a joy. Even though the horizons blush with promise every morning, and green leaves turn golden and amber as the weather cools, it’s hard to be thankful.
At the end of this week in October, little kids will dress up like pirates and princesses gathering candy in their pumpkin pails, and the time change will occur. It’s going to get dark very early–a problem for solar powered people like me. While some of us are making our plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas, many people dread these dark days. The holiday season will cause heartache for many because a hole sits in their heart. Someone will be missing around the table.
If an empty chair will be at your table this holiday season, I’ve been where you are. I know how hard it is. You might want to read my article about celebrating Thanksgiving when it’s hard. Grief is a tricky thing. Sometimes the change of season and holidays stir up old heartaches even though that person has been gone for years.
3 Things to Do if Your Heart Hurts
If you are struggling with sadness or worry this season, please know you are not alone. Not only do you have sisters around you missing someone too, you have sisters praying for you and a Father who has not left your side. When I struggle with shadows in my soul these three things help:
- Get Outside. I go for a walk either at sunrise or sunset or both, breathe in the cool fresh air, and look up to the heavens. If you can’t walk, get out to your porch and sit awhile with the One who made the beauty around you.
- Journal pain and blessings. I journal my heartache and then I list five things I’m thankful for.
- Get into the Word. I read scriptures about the goodness of God and the reasons to be thankful. Nothing lifts the shadows like God’s faithful truth.
Thanksgiving Reading plan
If you need help getting into the Word, take a screen shot or print the reading plan above by clicking on the image. Join me on Instagram @wordsbyandylee for posts on these verses and our Faith Friday gathering at 9:00 AM ET. We need each other–especially in the thankfulness department. Sometimes being thankful is not easy. The Father knows that. He knows there will be days when our thankfulness is a sacrifice. Look at this psalm:
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Psalm 107: 21-22 (emphasis mine)
The ancient Hebrew is beautiful here. Under our translation lies a word that connects thankfulness with a special sacrifice. Read this commentary: “The word describes an offering of thanksgiving or sacrifice of thanksgiving. It is a subcategory of the fellowship offering–or the offering of well being….” (Key Word “Towdah” p. 1980).
The Offering of Fellowship
I love this. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is an offering of fellowship to the Lord. And isn’t that what faith is all about, fellowship with God? I don’t want to be a grumpy Israelite who focuses on her negatives rather than her blessings. I want to nurture my relationship with the Giver as I recognize daily manna even when my heart hurts.
Love Him, my friends. If you wonder how to love the Father, and you need to make this commandment tangible, simply be thankful. Let your thankfulness open the door to deeper intimacy with Holy Spirit. This is why thankfulness is so important. Don’t miss it. Join me for 30 days as we nurture hearts of thankfulness.
New YouVersion Plan!
I also have another 30 day reading plan to share with you on the YouVersion Bible app. This is more of a devotional than simple plan with scriptures. This plan includes a devo and journal prompts each day along with the scripture. If you don’t have the YV Bible app, look it up! It’s free, and it makes focusing on the Lord and getting the Word into your heart every day easy.
Prayer for you
Hold my hands. I’m praying you up.
“Father, we do praise you and love you. Thank you for your faithfulness and grace. We thank you for the change of seasons, the golden trees and cooler weather, but Lord you know how the seasonal change, shorter days, and holidays can cause heartache for those who are missing a loved one this year. I pray an extra measure of grace for them in this season of turkey and dressing, decorations and gifts. Be so close they can feel your gentle presence. Carry them through, and help them lift a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you despite the grief. Fill them with you presence. Fellowship with these broken hearts. You are faithful. Amen.”
I’ll be praying for you.
Andy
