Thanksgiving requires a cultivated memory.  Forgetfulness is the fuel for ingratitude.  Remembering the ways and works of God in our lives excites profound gratitude and authentic faith.  Genuine gratitude spans beyond the immediate sight of food on the table or even the review of a decent year of life.  A thankful heart is captured by the active goodness of God in the entire course of one’s life – and throughout the history of the generations.

When Adults Forget – Children Suffer

Recently I meditated on Psalm 78, which tells the story of Israel’s history with the express purpose of counteracting spiritual rebellion and ingratitude.  The Psalmist reviews the profound punctuation of God’s patience, mercy, and goodness to a fickle and disobedient people.  The Psalmist writes, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (v. 4).  The passion of the Psalm is to stimulate a good memory of God’s works so that many generations to come would be grateful and faithful to God.

As the writer goes on to recount the detailed history of God’s goodness, he describes his purpose in these words: 

"That the generation to come might know them; the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children; That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.“ (Psalm 78:6-8)

Later in the Psalm, the writer describes these ungrateful ancestors by noting that they "forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (v. 11) and "they did not remember His power" (v. 42).

Forgetfulness Fosters a Faithless Heart

Clearly, forgetfulness fosters a faithless heart.  Psalm 106 presents a similar account of Israel’s history and the perils of forgetfulness.  Psalm 106:3 notes, "They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel," while v. 21 reiterates, "They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."

I have often wondered about the ten lepers Jesus healed as described in Luke 17:11-19.  Only one Samaritan returned and fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus to give thanks.  What happened to the other nine?  Were they completely ungrateful for the miracle Jesus accomplished in their bodies?  On the other hand, were they just forgetful in the midst of the excitement of their newly endowed health?  I suppose they were both forgetful and ungrateful.  The two tend to go together.  Jesus said of the one who returned, “Your faith has made you well.” What could be said of the other nine?  We might conclude that in the midst of their miracle – forgetfulness resulted in faithlessness.

Cultivating Thanksgiving Memories

Every Thanksgiving we go around the table and do a fun exercise called “Alphabet Thanks.” We each take a successive letter of the alphabet and name something that starts with that letter, expressing thanks for that person or blessing.  Sometimes the expressions are very thoughtful, often a bit silly – depending on the letter.  This Thanksgiving, I would like to work harder on a more meaningful exercise of real remembrance of God’s goodness.

Here are some conversation starters for this year’s Thanksgiving gatherings as we reflect beyond the turkey, parades, and football games:

• What stories have you heard about God’s goodness to your parents and grandparents?
• Early in your life, how did you see God’s goodness and faithfulness to you?
• In the last ten years, what highlights do you recall as you think about God’s faithfulness to you?
• In the past year, what has God done to demonstrate His care and provision?
• When you think about other family members or friends, what stories come to mind about God’s goodness?

Keep Remembering

Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  All His benefits.  That exercise will cultivate a lot of gratitude.  This Thanksgiving, ask the Lord for a healthy, holy sense of memory.  Let that commitment spark rich gratitude for all that the Lord has done.