Bright Spot: An activity to make this not-your-usual Thanksgiving

One of my favorite flicks is “Gravity” starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. They are two astronauts stranded in space. The ending is powerful. Only through a series of miracles (spoiler alert) is she rescued. As she looks up into the sky her last line is “thank you.” Some movie fans will argue she’s thanking Clooney, who sacrifices himself to save others. But I believe she’s thanking an “unnamed god” who she believes had something to do with her rescue.

One ATM customer had the machine mistakenly dump a boat load of cash onto her car. She’s videotaped on the security camera saying in a perplexed voice: “I’m not sure who or what to thank, but thank you.”

Nine of 10 U.S. families have gathered for Thanksgiving … because … we have a God-designed need to thank. Watch a TED talk (Ted.com) by Dr. Shawn Achor, expert on happiness studies. He proves how writing down three things for which you’re grateful every day is one of the things that drives down depression, blood pressure and increases happiness, along with random acts of kindness, journaling, exercise and meditation.

If you want some ideas on what to write, here are some that are a little out of the ordinary:

1. Try thanking God for something you’ve never thanked Him for before. (2 Corinthians 12:7-12)

2. Thank Him for something you still have, instead of what has been taken away. (Job 2:10; 13:15; 1 Sam 30:1-6)

3. Thank Him for something He’s given or done for others. (even enemies? Luke 6:27-31; 2 Corinthians 9:11-15; Philippians 1:3-6)

4. Thank Him for something you believe He’s going to do because He’s promised it in His Word. (I John 5:14-15)

5. Thank God for someone you’ve never thanked Him for. Then thank them directly. (I Thes 1:2-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7)

6. Thank Him for a characteristic of His you haven’t thanked Him for in a long while. (i.e. His “delight” in you; Zephaniah 3:17)

7. Thank Him for who you are becoming, and not who you were. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

8. Thank Him for His Word, the Bible. Now show your gratitude by reading it regularly. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:9-11; 105)

9. Give thanks that are opposite your feelings; it’s supposed to be a “sacrifice of praise.” (Hebrews 13:15-16)

10. Give thanks in one-word testimonies, especially for your salvation (Psalm 51:12). But make sure you know you’re a recipient of the life abundant and eternal only through Jesus. (John 10:10; 14:6; I John 5:13)

Don’t resist that need to thank. Let your thanksgiving flow and go all year!

Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: An activity to make this not-your-usual Thanksgiving