"Instead Let There Be Thanksgiving!"

 "Instead let there be thanksgiving." Eph. 5:4
It was either Danny or Hannah who asked the question a few days ago as Black Friday shopping was being discussed. Should the boys go to Bass Pro after Thanksgiving in Missouri or not? Would it be worth the long trip, the waits in line, etc?
And then my littlest child asked, "Why do people go shopping right away for more stuff the day after we are supposed to be thankful for what we have?"

Good question! Leave it to the little ones to come up with something like that!
"Instead, let there be thanksgiving."
Instead of covetousness.

Instead of filthiness.

Instead of sexual immorality and impurity.

Instead of foolish talk and crude joking which are out of place for the saints.

Instead let there be thanksgiving.

This is not original with me.

It is from Ephesians 5, and regardless what version you are using, you find that thanksgiving is the antidote to a great many bad things.

It's hard not to covet when you go into Walmart, or Hobby Lobby, or gift shops loaded with all sorts of wonderful things the advertisers and realtors want you to buy.
I really have a hard time at Hobby Lobby, my favorite store. I go in to buy Thanksgiving plates for the reunion, and there are so many delightful, glorious, beautiful, rustic, country, simple, pretty, adorable, oh-I just-love-that kind of things.
Instead, let there be thanksgiving.
Look at all the things I don't need to buy!

It may at times be hard to be content with your own first husband or wife--when you look around and see better, nicer, better-looking, kinder, more understanding, more spiritual, (or less super-spiritual) ones, ones who lead better (or are less controlling), and you are grumpy (or just plain absent and neglectful and silent) about the one you have.
Instead  let there be thanksgiving.
It may be hard to be content with kindness, good humor, leveling, caring, trying to understand the other person instead of dwelling on the shallow and foolish and even crude.

It's hard to speak thankful words when your tendency (in order to protect your fragile self) is to be foolish and silly and brash and brazen and negative and cynical.

But--

instead!

Instead, let us give thanks!

Here is a great article along this line.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fill-your-wandering-heart-with-thankfulness

"No trouble is too tangled for God to untie. No path is too twisted for him to straighten. No heart is too shattered for him to gather up and put back together." Scott Hubbard

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-is-bigger-than-your-problems