• Originally published November 6, 2009 at midnight, updated November 6, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.

Just the other day, I looked at my calendar and noticed that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It made me think: What am I thankful for? So, I started to make a list:

I am thankful for my wife, who continues to love me even though I am absent-minded and don't always maintain a proper balance between church life and family life.

I am thankful for my children, whose faces light up when they see daddy walk through the door.

I am thankful for the members of my church (yes, all of them). They are a blessing to me and my faith.

I am thankful for my wonderful home and all the material blessings God has showered on me.

I am thankful for my Savior Jesus, who loved me enough to suffer the punishment for all my foolishness and pride and hidden sins.

I am thankful for all those things, but that's not all. My list is now almost three pages long. What about the air I breathe? What about my parents and grandparents? What about all the struggles and trials in my life that God promises are blessings in disguise? The truth is that my Thanksgiving list will never be complete.

Every year, as I study prayer with the young people of our congregation, I tell them to thank God for one thing every night in their prayers - just one thing. But it has to be something different each night. I tell them to then come and talk to me when they have run out of things for which to say, "Thank you."

In 10 years as a pastor, not one has ever come and told me that they ran out of things for which to be thankful. Now, honestly they might not be doing what I asked, but the point is that our God gives us so many blessings that we will never run out of things for which to say, "Thank you."

And yet, we so often forget. We so often take God's blessings for granted. We so often don't recognize all that God has done for us. Thankfully, our God even forgives us for our ingratitude. Oh, there's one more thing to add to my Thanksgiving List.

So, this Thanksgiving, consider making your own "Thanksgiving list." Keep it by your bed or on your desk. Try and notice all the good things in your life. Be specific. Get them all. You'd be surprised all the things we take for granted. Oh, and then don't forget to say, "Thank you" to our loving God who is the source of every good thing.

Andrew Schroer is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Edna.

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