About 100 years ago, my great grandfather, a farmer, sat down for a meal with his family after bringing in the harvest. He wasn’t a Christian, but as he sat at a table filled with food, he was overwhelmed by a sense of gratefulness. There was only one problem: he didn't know who to thank. But he uttered a simple prayer of thanksgiving and it became a moment that changed the spiritual trajectory of my family. Soon after that day, he became a believer. Soon his wife and children did, too.

When I think of that story (which my grandfather, his son, still tells) it makes me thankful for thankfulness. When most of us think back over 2020, the last word that comes to mind is thankful. After all, between a global pandemic, civil unrest, and an economic recession, lament seems more appropriate than thanksgiving. But God is still good and there remain many reasons to be grateful.

The pilgrims didn’t have it easy, but the first Thanksgiving wasn’t dampened by their challenging circumstances. As David Roach writes in this article, their thankfulness grew out of a deep appreciation for God’s providence, even when life was hard.

It’s been a difficult year, but like the Pilgrims saw, God is still in control. And there are still many reasons to give thanks.