Thankfulness

Happy Comparison Day!

Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God?

So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing?

You ALREADY HAVE all you need.

You already have more access to God than you can handle.

1 Cor 4:7 – The Message

If you aren’t full now, you will be soon!  And, perhaps, you’ll have a melatonin-induced coma which will complement that sweet potato casserole (sugar) high.

I miss America.

This is my absolute favorite holiday.  Once, for my birthday (in JUNE!), a friend decorated her house for fall and cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner for me as a surprise, knowing my affinity for this day.  One year, Steve and I flew home from Munich and rang his parent’s doorbell on Thanksgiving morning – completely unannounced. They went crazy.

Today, I’m in a little German village called Neufahrn.  The people here don’t know about Pilgrims and Indians, and they like pigs – not turkeys.  But the smell of pumpkin pie is on its way, as I’ll soon start cooking a Thanksgiving feast for 60 people to be held for the expats at our church this Saturday.  Steve is baking FOUR turkeys, people!  Makes your basting process seem easy, eh?

Finding crisco, pumpkin puree, marshmallows and vanilla extract means “amazon.de” stole some crazy money from my bank account in order to deliver these American delicacies (?) to my German door step.

Since I won’t get to hug my dad today, I’ve planned to stay busy enough this week to keep the homesick tears at bay.  Something I’ve been perfecting for years.

But plans sometimes change, and it would seem that God has a different idea for me.  Instead of speeding up, at least for now, He’s pulled me to the sofa to ask a pressing question:

“Are you thankful?”

My response wanted to come easily – naturally – but all I could do was rev up and then choke the words back down.

That’s when I realized the question wasn’t finished.  God was trying to ask, “Are you thankful OR are you just RELIEVED?

A startling difference, and one that I didn’t initially understand.  Until it hit me.  I live my life – and often determine my thankfulness – fully by COMPARISON to others.  

  • I love my home when I’ve just visited someone else’s that is smaller, messier, or dirtier than mine.
  • I’m proud of my kids when they aren’t the ones on the floor throwing a fit in the middle of the restaurant.
  • I’m happy with my body when I see the naked old ladies sunbathing on the Isar River in Munich.
  • I’m grateful for food when I see commercials of kids who are starving.
  • I appreciate toilet paper when the Ma & Pop restaurant I just ate in didn’t have any.

I’m RELIEVED that I have the “X” someone else doesn’t — so, I’m thankful.

Ah, but I’m not at the top of the food chain.  Far from.  And comparison, the nasty little thief, works in both directions.

  • I don’t like my kitchen because Americans have great big marble islands, garbage disposals, sub zero refrigerators with ice makers, task lighting, and gas range stoves.
  • I feel “smushy” because I have some impossibly small boned model-esque friends with couture style to dress their tiny bottoms.
  • I ‘m concerned for my kids because they aren’t in private schools learning to read and write in cursive at age 4.
  • I’m ashamed of my new vacation spot because the resort next door looks better.
  • I don’t want my car anymore because the new model is out and it’s super hot.

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO!

We should “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” – 1 Thes 5:18.  Our thankfulness need NOT be a function of what those around us have (or don’t).

Do me a favor: eat your turkey, and, if you’re able, hug your dad for me.  Then take a moment to look around and be grateful.  Because everything is EXACTLY as it is.  Whether you’re (1) in the middle of a Thanksgiving Day family feud, (2) lighting your Swarovski crystal candelabras on your perfectly set pumpkin themed table, (3) sitting near your uncle who just farted, (4) Watching your sister’s kids again receive all the adoration from the grandparents because THEY are so well-behaved (while your kid may or may not have a lego up his nose), (5) sitting alone on a cozy lazy boy watching football or (6) rockin’ those leather leggings that are all the rage. — There is MUCH to be grateful for.

In fact, comparing is a wasted effort.  Futile.  What you have / have done will always pale in comparison to what God has done for you.  And THESE are the kinds of things we have through Christ, and they sort of make up for a host of other things… like empty toilet paper rolls:

  • I’m thankful because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
  • I’m thankful because my God supplies all my needs (Phil 4:19)
  • I’m thankful because I find rest (Matt 11:28)
  • I’m thankful because my children are a heritage from the Lord (Pslam 127:3)
  • I’m thankful because He’s completing a great work in me (Phil 1:6)
  • I’m thankful because I have LIFE and FORGIVENESS (Romans 6:23)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, FRIENDS!!!  I am thankful for all of you!

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  • Jen Edmiston November 27, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    Thank you for this reminder and message! Vielen Dank!

    • Heather Yoder November 27, 2014 at 5:04 pm

      Bitteschön, Jen! And thank you for the shout out!

  • themodernladyofficial November 27, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving to the Yoders with love from Pittsburgh! Three posts in one week, what a delight xoxo

  • Heather Yoder November 27, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    Darling, Lauren, Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be lucky to write just one post next week! 😉 Love you!

  • Grace Marquez November 29, 2014 at 12:20 am

    bringing reality to light…we are thankful but somehow we forget all the blessings we have …thanks for sharing.
    your posts always bring laughter to our hearts. God Bless you and Steve for making the meal for the ex pacts..

    • Heather Yoder December 8, 2014 at 4:02 pm

      Grace, you have your sweet family with you to start baking up a storm now too! I’d love to be a fly on the wall when all of you are together. You’d have me laugh/crying for sure. I send my love to each of you! Give those Valentino cheeks some extra squeezes for me!