November 1; Nations Are Composed Of Individual Thanksgivers
MANAGEMENT BY THE BOOK:
365 Daily Bible Verse &
One-Minute Management Lessons For The Busy Faithful

Chapter Eleven: Failure; 1 November

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,

or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,

because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place,

but rather thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:3-4

Thankful

“You owe me,” the young boss said to me, a fellow junior manager.

Ever eager to please, Your Business Professor would return the favor as best as time would allow. My payback-favor would be found wanting and be dismissed.

“You could learn to get the d@mn thing right,” said the lout. It was amazing to find a peer whose people skills were less developed than my own. But one can find all manner of creatures populating the mountain of any Very Large Corporation.

***

The founder of the Leadership Institute, Morton Blackwell, reminds us, “A stable movement requires a healthy, reciprocal I.O.U. flow among its participants. Don’t keep a careful tally.”

Political Capital is a wealth created—whose value can be measured in appreciation.

I didn’t mind so much that creep’s cussing. What lost my support for him was worse: he was not grateful; he never said ‘thank you.’

***

We all need to be appreciating and appreciated. Maybe even our Creator.

On 1 November 1777, the Continental Congress of the infant United States of America issued the National Proclamation of Thanksgiving. This was during the Revolutionary War against the British. The nation was grateful for the military victory at the Battle of Saratoga.

Political scientist Carson Holloway, Ph.D. writes,

In October of 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued a formal proclamation calling on the country to observe the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” And as America confronted a world at war in 1941, Congress voted to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

President Ronald Reagan in his first Thanksgiving proclamation wrote:

America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this Nation throughout its history.

In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to God for all of His blessings. . .

As we celebrate Thanksgiving . . . we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities.

Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done.

Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance.

Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people.

***

I soon lost track of that foul-mouthed manager who failed to be thankful. I heard he lost his footing and fell off our organization silo into some uncharted bureaucratic crevasse.

And I was most grateful.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4

###