And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:15-17)

Last week I was tackled by the stress of many responsibilities, but that has subsided somewhat. Now is a time of preparation, perhaps the calm before the storm. I prepare with my wife for the birth of our son, who is due in just about a week. I prepare my various assignments for submission in hopes that as much gets done as possible before the craziness of parenting begins. Such preparation in the time leading to Advent is symbolism not lost on me. Taking a moment to be thankful for all of the blessings of life and the creation of life seems right to me on this American holiday. The passage above from Colossians reminds me that thanksgiving is not simply accepting a gift, but it should be intimately tied to our actions. For the follower of Jesus of Nazareth, everything one does is an act of gratitude.

A blessed Thanksgiving to all my fellow American bloggers and blog readers!