One of the great joys of Thanksgiving is leftovers. For some reason, turkey and dressing taste just as good reheated as they do fresh out of the oven, maybe better. How much walking would you need to do for a turkey sandwich, some stuffing, some mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a piece of apple pie with ice cream? Over 13 miles! Add some gravy, and you’re up to nearly 15 miles! I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time to walk 15 miles after a meal, and in my case the ability.

We are right in the middle of the long Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving is an indication of the heart. It shows that our lives are in balance—and that our communication with the Lord is not all about our wants and our needs. There are two levels of gratitude. Let us call them the lower level and the upper level. Unfortunately, and I admit I am in this category, we kind of dwell in the lower level. That is where we see God’s work in our levels as intermittent spurts of goodness. Some big blessing comes along, and we say, “Thank you, Lord!” but living on that level of gratitude only shows that we are selfish, and that we miss the total perspective of God’s goodness. We thank Him for the pleasurable things because our view of goodness is comfort, rather than becoming like Jesus.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9 KJV)