Thankful 2020

“For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her with silver and gold- which they prepared for Baal.” Hosea 2:8

God was talking about His people, Israel. God loved His people so much, and out of His love He lavished them with gifts. Grain, new wine and oil can be symbolic of God’s provisions in the bible. Grain can represent God’s physical or material provisions, new wine is often synonymous with joy in the bible, and oil used to mark spiritual anointing. God gave His people wealth, provisions of abundant food and safety, and He gave them Himself. But not only did they neglect to acknowledge these things as gifts, but they took those gifts and used them to worship, show affection for, and honor other gods. It breaks my heart to read this. I realize my own lack of gratitude for the gifts given from God’s own hands.

It’s Thanksgiving, 2020. 

Ironically, if 2020 has given us anything, it has been a clear vision of what we have taken for granted, the things we didn’t realize we should have been thankful for all along. Health, family, friends, community, jobs, wealth, liberties, peace of mind, ease of life. “The new normal” highlighting the extraordinary blessing of what we once viewed as mundane. I write this not knowing if I will get to sit and have dinner with my family today, pending covid test results. I write this having lost my grandmother unexpectedly a few months ago, I didn’t know last year’s thanksgiving would be one of the last times I saw her. Things I would usually find wonting, at worst obligatory, my eyes are being opened to the blessing that they actually are.

So after reading this verse I was stopped, and felt a moment of personal conviction to just truly thank God for all His blessings. Because even though life doesn’t look the way I would choose, He is still so good.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13