"I don't know what to write".
This is how most of Andy's classmates (him included) began their Thanksgiving assignment, "I'm Thankful For....". In an effort to help them get started, I'd ask each kid to think of something good in his or her life. Pretty quickly the wheels would start turning and pencils would start scribbling. I patted myself on the back for a job well done.
That night, I read a portion of The Hiding Place by CorrieTen Boom. In case you haven't read this treasure of a book, it is Corrie's own memoir based on her family's experiences during World War II. Corrie and her family worked to protect and move Jews during the years of German occupation. They were arrested and, after several months in a Dutch prison, Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were transported to a concentration camp in Germany.
Upon their arrival at Ravennsbruck, after undergoing thorough and degrading inspection, Corrie and Betsie were led to their new "dormitories". Aside from the stench of backed-up plumbing and rancid bedding, the real horror set in when Corrie realized that these dorms were swarming with fleas. As they climbed up the disgusting, high-centered pallets on which they were to sleep, Corrie asked Betsie, "...how can we live in such a place?". Betsie's reply was to her Father: "Show us. Show us how."
A minute later, Betsie excitedly turned to Corrie, saying that God had given them the answer before they asked...that morning, when they had read their Bible. They opened it back up to the scripture they'd read before their arrival to Ravensbruck:
"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another for evil with evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."--1Thessalonians 5:14-19
"That's it, Corrie!" Betsie exclaims. "that's what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks.".
So they begin to thank God for blessings: they'd been placed together; they miraculously still had their Bible; there were so many there who, because of the cramped quarters, would hear the Word.
But then Betsie thanked God for the fleas.
"Betsie," I imagine her tone is one of disbelief and indignance, "there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.". I'm totally with her. And I know certain times when, in my heart, I've thought, "I will NEVER thank God for THIS".
Betsie's reply, though, reveals where Corrie and I have the idea of Thanksgiving quite wrong.
"Give thanks in all circumstances. It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances'. Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.". So, Corrie was made to give thanks for the fleas, sure that Betsie was out of her mind.
Over time, Betsie and Corrie had great crowds of women gathering for worship services in those filthy dorms. While Betsie knitted socks with the weakest of the prisoners, she shared the Word. The numbers of believers grew exponentially as Betsie and Corrie watched the transformation of the hopeless heartbroken to the joyful renewed. All of this happened without so much as a "Quiet down!" from the guards, who would gladly beat any one of them to death for creating even the slightest stir. In fact, the guards wouldn't even come near the doorways to the dorms. Why? You guessed it.
The fleas.
The thanks I give...it often costs me nothing. I save it for the times of happiness and abundance; when I've got my way and it all works out the way I'd like; when I have lots of 'good things' to point to.
But when I suffer loss....when it doesn't seem like things are working out my way...when I can't see any 'good' that could possibly come from a situation....
I'm silent. I'm angry. "How could you?" rolls off the tongue far easier than "Thank you".
Psalm 50 offers an invitation:
"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God."
Reader, will we hold onto what we feel entitled to: our rights, our definition of fairness, our demands to know it all, our dignity, our pride....and only give thanks for that which makes us happy? That keeps us comfortable? That makes sense to our finite minds?
OR
Reader, please, will you unclench your fists with me and thank God in and for whatever circumstance He has put you in? Will you place all of those things on the altar and burn them in order to give thanks to the God who has promised....
Never to leave you
Never to forsake you
To work all things for your good
To supply for all your needs
Overwhelming victory
Unending peace
Salvation
ALL through Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose.
"The salvation of God"....unending joy in friendship with our Father forever....light and goodness and mercy and abundance and shocking LOVE.... He wants to show us this, as He showed (and is showing) Corrie and Betsie.
If I approach thanksgiving with a heart that trusts my Father and believes that He is working out His glorious plan that makes provision for my good, it will cost me. I will have to stop the shaking fists and stomping feet; the never-ending demands and discontent. The idea that I am owed anything in this life and have the right to demand anything at all will have to go. If I am to give thanks in all circumstances, then I will have to believe that my God is doing far greater things than I could ever imagine. It may cost me my pride. And when all these things are gone and in their place is the salvation of God?
I don't think I'll miss them.
