By Allen White
When
the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose
twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up
twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are
standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you
stay tonight.”
Joshua
4:1-3
Thanksgiving has always been a special time of year for me. As
a child, my family would travel out to Hayes, Kansas, where we would spend
Thanksgiving with my Aunt Sally and Cousin Vhonda. This was one of the best
things that my family did.
I remember eating plenty of food, putting on musical
performances with my sister and my cousin – we had a lot of fun. The evening
would usually involve watching The Wizard
of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I still have nightmares of those flying monkeys.
My twelfth birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day. My aunt made a
special Happy Birthday pumpkin pie for me that year. That’s still a special
memory for me.
Your Thanksgiving may be filled with other things this year.
I’m sure there’s food and football. Maybe a little family tension. Maybe a long
walk on a cool Autumn day to work off the dinner.
Thanksgiving in November is a uniquely American holiday.
Thanksgiving in Canada was last month (they get an extra month of Christmas
shopping). In the Bible, thanksgiving is a heart attitude that goes beyond a
single holiday.
In Joshua 3-4, we read how the people of Israel miraculously
crossed the Jordan River. This was the final boundary into the Promised Land.
After the tribes had passed through the river, Joshua instructed one man from
each tribe to gather a stone. These twelve stones were placed in the river as a
reminder of God’s work on their behalf. The intent was that years later when
their children and grandchildren asked about the stones, parents and
grandparents would stop and reflect on God’s goodness to them and His power to
overcome an overwhelming obstacle.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving, stop for five minutes and
think about how God has helped you to overcome obstacles in your life in the
past year, five years or even your whole life. If it’s appropriate, share this
with the others who are gathered with you.
Thanksgiving brings to mind the faithfulness of God, which
gives us the confidence to face the future. Our memories may point us to
monumental accomplishments of faith. Our memories may look back on the broken
road that led us to Christ. Either way, God’s faithfulness is solid ground to
build our futures on.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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