Thanks-receiving

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, so Happy Thanksgiving!
You won’t know the answer to this question, but that’s okay because I’m going to explain it in this web-post.  

Question: Have you turned Thanks-giving into a day of thanks-receiving?  

You’ve already received.
You’ve heard it said that it’s better to give than it is to receive.  That phrase comes from the quote I have below from The Lord Jesus. What that means is it’s a common desire to “receive”.  What’s uncommon is a desire to “give”. It’s natural to want someone to give to us as opposed to us giving to someone. While it’s better to give, it’s normal for us to want and wait to receive.  

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – The Lord Jesus

Giving is key to Thanks-giving.
Maybe Thanksgiving isn’t such a great holiday for many because they have the sequence of giving and receiving reversed.  Rather than giving, you’re receiving. It’s a “common” misunderstanding. People who give have already received. People give out of what they’ve already received.  They see themselves not as a receiver but one who’s been given something to give.
Have you ever noticed that the most thankful and grateful people in the world aren’t those who have all that the world has to offer?  Could it be they’re so used to receiving that they don’t know what it is to be a giver? If you don’t know how to give then you can’t appreciate thanks-giving.  Giving and thanks go hand-in-hand.

No reason to be thankful.
When you’re looking to receive, you see no reason to be thankful.  Your focus is totally on what you need or desire. It’s hard to be thankful when you always believe someone needs to do something for you.  In other words, you have an expectation that others should do for you. You can’t be thankful when you have your hand out. A hand-out spirit or mindset is one who is ungrateful or not thankful.  Which are you? Givers are thankful because they know the value and sacrifice it takes to give.

When was the last time you took the focus off you and placed it on someone who needed what you had to offer?  Start with those closest to you. This Thanksgiving instead of showing up to receive, show up to give your family the best you you can offer.  It’s time out for Thanks-receiving; it’s time for some Thanks-giving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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