As you know Cameroon is a bilingual country – speaking both French and English. Our church is also bilingual and this allows us to occasionally get additional insights by looking at things from a second point of view.
In French “thanksgiving” is not one word but a phrase — “l’action de grace” meaning “acts of grace”. Specifically in church, we celebrate the acts of grace of God toward us by blessing us with the resources that we have. This can mean bring the gifts of money we have been given to the church, but it also means for those that raise crops that they can bring those to offer to God. After the service these gifts are auctioned to the congregation to convert them to cash.
Corn being auctioned for Thanksgiving at a Bamenda church
Goat offering at our church as part of a Thanksgiving service
Bidding on squash that have been given as an offering.
We have also been celebrating God’s goodness to us it its various forms:
A church where we can worship
Health that has allowed Jeff to play sports
The foundations of our new home are going in
Memories of Thanksgivings past - when our kids were small.
- Thanksgiving dinner with friends
We are constantly reminded of the many blessings we have to be thankful for this year. It has not always been a year of happiness – our lives have been touched by sadness as we have watched family members and friends suffer the ravages of cancer, but we have also seen God’s provision and blessing in the midst of trials. As we move from the Thanksgivng season (see last year’s Thanksgiving post which explains that Thanksgiving is more than a day) into Advent we come with expectant hearts ready to receive God’s greatest gift to us. I am reminded of the song by Henry Smith which says:
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks
Give thanks.
Join us in thanksgiving this year
