It is Thanksgiving in Canada, and at the time this was written, we are preparing to celebrate our first Thanksgiving without my precious mother-in-law, whom everyone called “Grams”.

Grams loved Thanksgiving.

She loved helping my wife cook. She loved seeing the spread of food on the table, and most of all, she loved seeing the family around the table.

She took this a step further, however. She always went out of her way to share her meager funds with those who were less fortunate than she was on Thanksgiving by giving to local food banks, etc.

I am saddened this year to think about Thanksgiving, for Grams no longer celebrates Thanksgiving on this Earth. She went to be with the Lord just after Christmas of last year.

However, despite the fact that she no longer walks this Earth, I know that there continues to be great Thanksgiving in her heart. As she sits at the feet of her Lord and Saviour, her heart is overflowing with gratitude for everything that He has done for her. She is delighted that she can walk again without pain or fear of falling. She is ecstatic that she doesn’t hurt all the time or need help bathing and dressing. She is thankful that He continues to care for her family, and she is overjoyed when yet another member of her family joins her in the heavenly realm.

Yes, Thanksgiving will be a more solemn event this year without Grams, but we are comforted to know that she is way better off in Heaven, and that we will see her again!

Meanwhile, there is a lesson to be learned: Gratitude is so important! Not only is it commanded in the Bible (“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:18 NIV), but it is also the key to overcoming a sense of entitlement, or what I call the “Santa Claus” syndrome. The more we take the time to adequately show our gratitude for the thousands of blessings God gives us every day, the less time we have to focus on the problems. Not only this, but it builds faith to remember the blessings of God! It also gives us practice for one of the key things we will be doing in Heaven: Bowing at Jesus feet and expressing our gratitude to Him: “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: ‘“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.'” (Revelation 15:1-3 NIV)

This Thanksgiving, try to focus on ALL of God’s blessings. And don’t stop once the leftovers are put away! Instead, focus on God’s blessings everyday!

Thank you, Grams for this important lesson! We will always remember you and we love you!

See you in Heaven!

In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Director, Answer2prayer Ministries