There are three reasons why thanksgiving makes us whole, even in hard times. 

Why be thankful in hard times?  Because thanksgiving makes us whole.

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, we're exploring reasons for giving thanks in hard times. 

Why be grateful in painful times?  As we learned yesterday, God's word clearly calls us to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18), but why? 

We are entering the Thanksgiving season, but you'd be hard pressed to prove it from the daily news.  Has there been a time in recent memory when our nation was less disposed to be thankful? 

One day Christ-followers will share a Thanksgiving banquet for which there will be no dietary warnings. The King will prepare a "wedding banquet" for his Son (Matthew 22:2) and invite his "bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Revelation 21:2), the Church.

Our second Thanksgiving rule follows the first: look for ways to help others be grateful. You likely know someone in a hospital or sickbed, someone who is lonely and alone, hurting or in grief. You may be their reason for the season.

For many of us, Thursday will leave little legacy on Friday except for turkey sandwiches. By Monday the world will be in full Christmas rush, with the Pilgrims shoved aside by Santa and his reindeer. So now is the time to observe some Thanksgiving rules of our own, while there's still time.

This Thanksgiving week, pause to reflect on those who have prayed for you. Jesus, from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). Our Savior, who "lives to intercede" for us today (Hebrews 7:25). Your family and friends. Wesley believed that God does nothing except in answer to prayer. Remember all the people who have prayed for you, and be grateful.