WE all have our Thanksgiving stories that come to us in this gracious and bountiful season. Stories that permeate our thankful hearts. With the up coming Thanksgiving, it is good to go back and remind ourselves of thanks of the past . . . look in the past and see the many glimpses of God's action of thanks in our lives today.
ONE of the ways I remind myself of thanks that comes from God is in the hymns of our faith - "Now Thank We All Our God" is a very special hymn to me. I remember singing it so many times in this season growing up. I also took on new meaning as this was the Processional that we used in our Wedding Service as we processed with our children to the singing of this great hymn. The words expressed our thanks to God for his love and the uniting of our hearts with our families present and that in itself was a great day of thanksgiving for us. When we get out the wedding video, we are reminded of so much. One is the many blessings that our God has given us, we are sorrowful that some of those blessings (those special people in our lives) that we see alive and full of life and love on the video are no longer with us but wait upon the other shore of life.
Now Thank We all Our God ...
with hearts and hands and voices ...
Who wondrous things hath done,
in whom the world rejoices;
Who from our mother's arms,
hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
The background story of this hymn shares light on the real blessing that comes from this great hymn. Germany, in the 17th century, was in the throws of the 30 year war. Martin Rinkart was the Lutheran pastor in the walled city of Eilenberg in Zaxony. In spite of his frail physique, he stayed there throughout the war enduring the horrors of famine and plague. He helped refugees from other areas who came to the city. When other pastors had either fled or died, he ministered to the sick and dying conducting some 4,500 funerals, including that of his own wife.
Towards the end of the war, the city was besieged or overrun, once by Austrians and twice by the Swedes. The Swedish general demanded a vast levy from Eilenberg's all ready desperate citizens. Martin pleaded with him, but in vain. So, he turned to his friends and said, "come my children, we can find no mercy with man, let us take refuge with God." The general was so moved at seeing pastor and people praying and singing on their knees, that the demand was reduced to less than a 20th of the original sum.
"Now Thank We All Our God" which began as a family grace said before meals, was now sung as a national Thanksgiving at the end of the 30 year war.
In this Thanksgiving season, may we pray and sing upon our knees thanking God for all the blessings that have been given to us.
All Praise and Thanks to God.
The Father now be given ...
The Son, and him who reigns;
With them in highest heaven;
The one eternal God,
Whom Earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be ever more.
May we all sense the loving and giving presence of our God this Thanksgiving season.
IN DEEPEST THANKSGIVING,
Pastor Rod