by J. Randal Matheny

Americans turn this week to one of their most celebrated holidays, Thanksgiving. Businesses and industries shut down, schools close, and people travel to be with loved ones. This holiday has been imitated and reproduced in a number of other countries as well, indicating the importance that even governments give to fostering the attitude in their national populations.

In 1909, Brazil's ambassador to the U.S., Joaquim Nabuco, attended an American Thanksgiving worship service. He was so impressed that he wrote: "Would that all humanity united on the same day for a universal thanksgiving to God." On 17 August 1949 then-president Eurico Dutra declared the National Day of Thanksgiving. Only in 1965 was the declaration made official by president Castelo Branco, and the fourth Thursday of November was set for its commemoration.

The Head Governor of the church has long nurtured gratitude in his own people. From his own prayers, to praising its appearance in those around him, Jesus showed the way of gratitude.

In its essence, the attitude of being thankful considers the character of God. Gratitude acknowledges that "God is great, God is good." And though Louw and Nida do it in the their Greek lexicon, it's hard to separate the attitude from its expression.

To express gratitude without the inner attitude would be, it seems, hypocrisy. On the other hand, it seems something of an impossibility to feel thankful without letting that inner warmth have its outer expression. When we fail to say thanks, we feel we have failed, and guilt often accuses us. And so it should.

It seems especially appropriate that Paul, in speaking of the church's praise through singing in Colossians 3:15-17, circles his discussion with themes of gratitude:

• "and be thankful" (v. 15). • "singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (v. 16). • "giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (v. 17).

That's why the instrument fails miserably in Christian worship, since it cannot put words to our deepest thoughts and feelings. As insufficient as they seem, the words of our songs do and can serve as adequate means of expressing the heart's overflow to God.

Thanksgiving is not a mere ritual or holiday. As worthy as a national day may be, the Christian daily acknowledges his unworthiness to receive what a gracious God has given.

Let us enjoy the holiday, as it reminds us that the attitude of gratitude and the expression of thanksgiving should be constant marks of God's special people.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes. 5:16-18, NASU).