Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17

As I drove from Lexington today, the lighted traffic sign overhead read “Give thanks for your seatbelt.” Well, I suppose that is one thing we can be grateful for, but at this time of the year, our gratitude should be aimed a bit higher, don’t you think?

As James reminds us in the verse above, God is the ultimate source of every good gift and so we should give thanks for all He has done in our lives whether we have much or only a little in the eyes of those around us.

I’ve referred to this before, but our hymnal featured a song entitled, “Count Your Blessings.” Here’s a couple of verses –

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, and see what God has done!”

When was the last time you gave thought to how you can give thanks to God for the many gifts He has provided?