A Thanksgiving Message
A number of years ago I read an account of a family that back in the nineteen thirties made the agonizing decision to purchase electricity through a rural electrification program. Of course back in that day the money to sign up was come by the hard way, with much sweat and hard work. As with my Adorable cousin's story about my grandpa turning all the lights on and standing out on the road to look, those who have lived with only kerosene lamps for light at night understand the difference electrification makes. It is truly a brilliant difference. In the account I read the electric was put in, but the year was a hard year with much financial turmoil. By the time Thanksgiving came around, when it was time to put their meager feast on the table there was much squabbling and arguing. The husband/farmer listened to the women folk and their noise as long as he could stand it. At last he got up, went to the light switch turned it off, and he returned with a kerosene lamp for the table. I don't remember what the women were arguing about, maybe the lack of funds, but it had some-what to do with the lights I believe. The man made his point as they sat in the darker room
Thanksgiving should be an everyday thing. This time of the year many are responding to the fourteen day 'thanksgiving challenge'. Every day they list what they are thankful for. Something I have seen more than once in the last number of years are scenes from third world countries and how we should be thankful, because we have so much more than these people. I have mixed feelings about this view of thankfulness.
Jesus has said 'the poor you will always have'. By our bank account we would fit into that category, even though there are just two of us left in our current 'household'. Throughout the last forty-five plus years of our marriage we haven't ever made more income than we do today. Even when we had all of our children at home, which made us some of those 'below poverty' people. We didn't shop at the upscale stores, but we had decent wardrobes. We had a large garden which blessed us with enough summertime food, and we preserved of the abundance for winter. We paid our daily bills, and that meant a roof over our head along with food and clothing. That brings to mind the scripture admonition:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ASV)
As some of my acquaintances know, Old Fuzzy has done a number of mission trips. At one time he related the account of a man (a fellow worker perhaps, or a listener to a mission report?) who said to him, 'They are so poor. We need to do something...'.
Usually mission work is done amongst the poor—in riches/possessions of this life—but I have seen more harm done by well-intentioned do gooders. Believing they are going to help poor people by giving them money or stuff. My husband asked the man who wanted to give them something, so are they happy? At the man's response of yes, my husband said, 'Then leave them alone'.
The last thing we need to teach people, whether they are financially rich or poor, is discontent. To teach people discontent is to teach them bitterness. Riches goes far beyond house, clothing, money, far beyond possessions. And that is my gripe with being thankful because I have a nicer house than someone else, or I'm 'better off' in some way than someone else.
