感恩节文章(英文).docx

感恩节文章(英文)

第一篇：感恩节文章(英文)Theology2D11.17YuxuanLiTheologyNewsletterforThanksgiving/AdventI’dliketospendthenextfewdaysfocusingonThanksgiving.That’sright,Thanksgiving.Yes,IknowthattheofficialAmericanholidayfallsonthefourthThursdayinNovember,notthethirdMonday.So,yes,IknowthatI’maweekearly.ButI’dliketobegintooffersomethoughtsonThanksgiving,eventhoughwewon’tbesittingdowntoaTurkeydinnerforanother240hoursorso.WhystartaconversationaboutThanksgivingnow?Idonotmeaninanywaytounderminethespecialnessofthetraditionalholiday.Ithinkit’sgreatthattheUnitedStatescontinuestosetapartadayayearforgivingthanks.AndIthinkit’sdoublygreatthatmostofusstillbelievethatThanksgivingisadayforactuallygivingthankstoGod,notjustatimeforfeelingnebulouslythankfulwhilefillingourfaceswithaTurkeydinnerandwatchingfootballonTV.MyhopeisthatbywritingaboutThanksgivingaweekandahalfearly,ImightactuallyenhanceyourcelebrationofThanksgiving,notdetractfromit.Thus,today’spostwillbethefirstofseveralongivingthanks.Thereisadanger,Ibelieve,inidentifyingonedayayearasThanksgivingDay.It’sthedangerofimplyingthatthanksisdueonthisday,butnotonothers.Wefaceasimilardanger,forexample,whenwedesignatethesecondSundayinMayasMother’sDay.Shouldn’tchildrenhonortheirmothersmorethanonceayear?Similarly,shouldn’twebethankfulmoreoftenthanonceayearonthefourthThursdayofNovember?AsaChristian,IwouldarguethatgivingthankstoGodisimportantbecauseithonorsGod.IwouldalsoarguethatScripturecallsforconsistentgratitudeamongGod’speople.But,thereisalsocaseforgratitudethatdoesn’tdependonbiblicaltheology.Infact,itappealstocommonsenseandevenselfinterest.Toputthematterbluntly:Gratitudewillimproveyourlife.Gratitudemagnifiesourexperienceofthegoodthingsinlife,enablingustoenjoythemmorethoroughly.Gratitudealsohelpsustoendurethehardthingsinlifewithdignity,perhapsevenwithhumor.Gratitudeislikesavoringafinemeal,enjoyeverybite,ratherthanracingthroughamealasifit’ssomesortofrace.LetmeofferapersonexampleofwhatI’mtalkingabouthere.IwasabletogotocollegebecauseIreceivedgenerousfinancia