A Grateful Heart Offered to God

The first section of the sermon criticizes the flawed formula that many people use to determine the level of gratitude—the formula of gratitude equals what is received minus what is lost. According to this formula, when losses exceed gains, gratitude diminishes or disappears, leading to bitterness and discontent. However, Scripture teaches us to give thanks to God in all circumstances, as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, because this is the will of God.

The second section presents the history of the Pilgrims and the origin of Thanksgiving Day. In 1607, a group of about fifty to sixty people, including men, women, and children, left England to seek freedom of worship. They first went to Holland, and then in 1620 boarded the Mayflower to cross the sea to America. The journey was full of dangers, with the ship breaking down multiple times and having to turn back. The first winter was extremely harsh, and only about half of the people survived. However, thanks to the help of a Native American named Squanto in farming, they had an abundant harvest. In the fall of 1621, they organized a large feast lasting three days to thank God for protecting them and giving blessings, while also expressing gratitude to the Native people who had helped them.

The third section presents the history of the official establishment of Thanksgiving Day in the United States. After more than 150 years, in 1863, when the country was in the midst of a brutal civil war between North and South, President Abraham Lincoln signed a resolution to proclaim the first national Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November. In his proclamation, Lincoln acknowledged that the American people had forgotten God, becoming proud of their development and wealth, viewing these blessings as the result of their own wisdom and merit. War and suffering reminded the people of the necessity of God's grace and called them to repent and pray humbly.

The fourth section applies the message by comparing the true value of gratitude. Blessings include not only material goods and money, but also forgiveness, salvation, family, friends, and the church. The sermon emphasizes that we should not wait until everything is perfect and complete to give thanks, because that will never happen. Instead, we need to learn how to count like grateful people: count God's blessings, add to what we already have, subtract unnecessary things and negative emotions, multiply God's grace and forgiveness, and share blessings with those around us.

The final section concludes with the message that God often uses trials and hardships to bring us closer to Him. The example from the prophet Jeremiah shows that even in the midst of a city's destruction, one can find hope in God's kindness and mercy. Those who forget the language of gratitude will never be able to speak the language of happiness.