A few years ago, the Peanuts cartoon pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy's dinner on Thanksgiving Day.  The dinner was just his usual dog food.  Somewhat disappointed, Snoopy lamented, "This isn't fair.  The rest of the world is eating turkey with all the trimmings and all I get is dog food.  Because I'm a dog, all I get is dog food."  He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment and said, "I guess it could be worse.  I could be a turkey."

     Sometimes I think when it comes to giving thanks we conduct ourselves like Snoopy.  His thankfulness was based on the fact that he was better off than the turkey.  His thankfulness was based on a comparison.

     When it comes down to the truth of the matter, it is probably a good idea to recognize that there are so many others in the world far worse off than we are.  This should motivate us to stop complaining.  But when it comes to our thankfulness, the basis should never be, "Whew, am I thankful that I'm not her" or" I am so thankful I don't have to live like that!"

    Thankfulness is so much more than a comparison of our situation to someone elses.  Thankfulness is more than having enough food to eat, or having a nice, warm home to live in, good health, or even financial security.  Thankfulness should be a state of being and a way of life.

     Emerson once said if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to look at them.  But since we have seen the stars so often, we don't bother to look at them anymore.  In like manner, we have grown accustomed to our blessings and we have become spoiled.

     This year let us truly be thankful.  Not because, in comparison, we do have it better than most people in our world.  Let us be thankful because we serve a God who is certainly worthy of our gifts of thanksgiving.  He is faithful and true.