As we come to the end of this month of Thanksgiving, we can’t forget to bring attention to our ultimate example of thankfulness: Jesus!

Jesus, our Lord, walked on this earth as a human for thirty-three years. He grew as a child to earthly parents who, among many other things, taught him to be thankful. This and countless other lessons were part of the life manual Jesus left for His children, so that we might learn to be Christ-like in every word and deed. Jesus was very intentional during His time on earth, making sure that His followers saw and modeled His actions so that one day they would record it and leave it for generations to come â€" for us!

We have learned to bow our head and thank the Lord for the food before us because, on several occasions, that’s what Jesus did. He modeled this for us before feeding the multitudes (Matthew 14 and 15), and at the Last Supper with His disciples (Luke 22); Jesus lifted his bread and gave thanks for the food.

We pray for our family and friends because Jesus did that too! He did it because He knew His prayers were being heard. In John Chapter 11, Jesus had been called because his friend Lazarus was very sick, but by the time Jesus arrived Lazarus had died and was buried in a tomb. Jesus lifted His voice in prayer to God the Father and thanked Him for hearing Him and asked God to allow Him to bring Lazarus back from the dead. Jesus wanted those around Him to see prayer and thankfulness being modeled so that they too would learn to give thanks knowing that God would hear them.

These and many more examples of thankfulness were left to us by our Lord who, being God, humbled himself to show us how to live in a grateful manner for everything God has given us. With the confidence that Jesus had in praying to God the Father, I encourage you today to take a moment to bow your head and give thanks for every blessing you have received from the God who hears you.

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for looking on me with love and compassion and taking the time to leave a model of thankfulness in your Son, Jesus. I want to be more like Jesus every day and I want to begin by being thankful for everything you've given me and even for the things you’ve chosen to withhold from me. I love you, Lord, and I’m so grateful that I can call you, my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. John 11:41.