Turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie…

I have to admit, Thanksgiving dinner is one of my absolute favorite meals, and sometimes the excitement of stuffing my face until I can’t eat anymore takes focus from what this day is really about.

Giving thanks to God.

It’s not hard to think of things I am thankful for. I have a merciful God, wonderful husband, loving family, great friends, and a sweet puppy. These are the obvious blessings in my life that I am always grateful for. They are the good.

But what about the bad?

Do the bad things in life have a place in today’s celebration? It doesn’t seem natural to be thankful for bad things. It’s not fun to be sick. It’s frustrating to fail a test. It’s heartbreaking to lose a loved one.

But, as the old saying goes, you cannot know happiness without sadness. You cannot know joy without pain. Without the bad, we wouldn’t know how good the good truly is.

So as we’re counting our blessings today, let’s not forget to be thankful for the less obvious things. The things we might not put at the top of the list. The things that teach us to hold tight to God and His love.

And let’s thank God, today and every day, that He is always there to bring us through. The good. The bad. The frustrating. The joyful. Celebrating with us. Crying with us. Comforting us. Laughing with us. 

For that we should be truly thankful.

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.