Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that your holiday was filled to overflowing with joy and thanksgiving.

We were blessed to spend our day surrounded by family and friends. We ate, played games and enjoyed fellowship together.

For the first time I hosted thanksgiving at my house. I made my first turkey and invited our friends and family. And while I had a little anxiety, my heart was so full. Cooking brings me joy, and sharing food is my favorite way to show my love.

Even so, this Thanksgiving is a little bitter sweet for me, because I realize that it may be the last one we spend in our house. I know that we won’t live here forever, and this house which has become a home for me and my family could very likely be sold.

And that got me thinking, even if I know I may lose something, can I still be grateful?

Maybe you know the old worship song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman. Steve and I used to sing it all the time and the bridge still challenges me. It says:

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord blessed be your name.

-Matt Redman

As you celebrate this holiday season, are you willing to give thanks and worship despite what is taken from you?

We realize our house has been a blessing from God since the moment we moved in. And it’s easy for me to be bitter about the possibility of losing it. I see a choice we must make. A choice to be grateful despite what happens or a choice to be bitter in a world full of bitter people.

I think satan wants that. I think he believes that if he can find a way to take away our thankfulness, that he will win. And in a lot of circumstances I think he’s right. After all, why would we be grateful for something we’ve lost?

But you my dear are different, and so am I. We have been given the challenge to be different than everyone else. We are set apart. Because of that we know what our choice must be in the face of difficulty.

We must choose to be grateful because thankfulness proves our trust in God to an unbelieving world. I am grateful for my home because I know God and God alone gave it to me. Therefore, if He chooses, He can take it away from me and my position will remain the same. I was grateful to receive it and I will forever be grateful for the memories and time my family and I have been able to spend here.

I think of Job, who despite losing everything, he refused to speak against God. He still worshipped, and he still gave thanks.

As you finish your 30 days of thankfulness I challenge you to think especially hard on the things that you may lose. Will you still praise God? Will you still give thanks?

If you missed our challenge click here to go to the post!