By God’s Side: November 25, 2020

Weekly Inspirational Reflections from the Reverend Dr. John A. Dalles

November 25, 2020

I hope you are looking forward to giving thanks tomorrow. In this year of pandemic precautions, it may look different from Thanksgivings past. But at the core of the day, no matter where you are, saying thank you is something that we all can do.

You may want to make it traditional. Or, you might prefer to begin a new tradition. You might want to recall the “First Thanksgiving” and the Pilgrims and Native Americans who gathered not far from Plymouth Rock. Or, you might prefer to think about the Thanksgiving celebration that took place some years before that in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is the first actual Thanksgiving celebration in what are now the contiguous forty-eight states. (So, yes, if you choose to put southwestern fare on your menu, that would be traditional, too.)

It seems to me that whatever the first Thanksgiving may have been, the more important matter is what the “latest” Thanksgiving is: the way that we express our thanks and praise to God, this week; how we put that thankfulness into practice, in our attitudes and in our actions; what we do with our gratitude, to demonstrate that we are truly thankful.

You know what the great Christian Meister Eckhart says:

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”

And what the Apostle Paul encourages us to do:

“In everything, give thanks.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The Reverend Dr. John A. Dalles
Interim Senior Pastor, Shadyside Presbyterian Church

About Dr. Dalles

Read more about Dr. Dalles.

Watch a brief video introducing a series of conversations with Dr. Dalles.

About By God’s Side

Shadyside Presbyterian Church publishes By God’s Side, a weekly series of inspirational reflections from the Reverend Dr. John A. Dalles, to support you in your spiritual journey. These pastoral messages appear in the blog section of the church website each week. (Our weekly e-newsletter includes an excerpt to remind you to read along with us regularly; click here to subscribe to the e-newsletter if you do not already receive it.) We hope this regular feature will help you to draw closer to God’s side in your life of faith.

Read more reflections by Dr. Dalles from By God’s Side.