What is distinctive about thanksgiving — the act, and not just the holiday? Whatever it entails, to give thanks is to acknowledge another’s effort or generosity to benefit you.

The what of thanksgiving — at least recognizes two sides of the coin. If giving thanks is a single act, it is aware of two sides or aspects. There is the “What do I have?” side, and then there is the “Who made that possible?” side. The entire scope of my life includes all that I really do have, but I also need to see that I have not earned, produced, created, or otherwise achieved it. It’s a tension of what I have vs. what do I deserve. And at what cost has God given me all that I have been given?

The why of giving thanks is all about honor and proper recognition. We are not our own, as the Psalmist knew: “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:3-4). The Apostle Paul had to remind the Corinthian believers that they were not self-made (and no one is). He asked them pointedly, What do you have that you weren’t given? “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). And thanksgiving is appropriate at all times — even, or especially in hardship — because the LORD, our God, is still Who He is, and He has still provided all that we have in salvation regardless of our circumstances.

The how of thanksgiving can start with a personal inventory. Entire careers exist in logistics, and included in every logistical consideration is the matter of inventory — what is on hand? What do you have? How much is it worth? Where is it? In what condition is it? If you started just with your body — that you have a heartbeat, that you can breathe, that you can see, hear, move or even run — how valuable is your health and all of your physical abilities?

Then, consider your mental abilities and your talents and skills. What has God enabled you to do? What talents do you have? What education have you received? What have you learned or learned how to do? What blessings have you gained from your job or profession?

And then, what about your relationships? How valuable are the people in your life (and Who created them)? Can you even put a price on what your loved ones are worth? Yet we know that Jesus put a price on everyone who trusts in Him. They are worth His life, given and sacrificed willingly so that they might be eternally redeemed.

The hymn writer simply said, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

Turn all of these inventory assessments toward the LORD, as the Maker, Owner and Giver of all things. How do all of the blessings of all of the benefits of all your life reflect something about Him? How do they awaken within you a renewed sense of HIS worth? How do they prove His love and generosity? How do they position you to, in turn, be a blessing to others?

What is distinctive about thanksgiving? Whatever it entails, to give thanks to God is to acknowledge HIS effort and generosity to benefit you in a miracle of mercy that would not stop with you. It will echo back to Him in praise and gratitude, and it will reverberate outward to others that they would benefit also, just as you have.