Nov 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.11

Chaplain's CornerLt.

Chaplain's CornerLt. John King, RetTrue Meaning of 'Thankful'Greetings fellow Blues readersand welcome to the secondedition of the Chaplain’s Corner.Since we’ll be celebratingThanksgiving this month Ithought it would be appropriateto look at what the Scripturestell us about being thankful. Butfirst let’s look at the definition of“thankful”:1: conscious of benefit receivedand kindly disposed toward thebenefactor2: expressive of thanks or gratitude3: well pleased(“Thankful.” Merriam-Webster'sUnabridged Dictionary,Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/thankful. Accessed 18Oct. 2025.)If we move those definitionsaround a bit, we can construct asentence that tells us that to bethankful is to be well pleasedand conscious of benefit receivedand kindly disposed toward thebenefactor (the person who gaveus the benefit) and we are expressiveof thanks and gratitudetowards them. Let’s be honest,there’s no one who is alwaysthankful for the many blessings,benefits, etc., we receivefrom our fellow man, let alonefrom God. I know I’m not, andit’s not that I don’t want to be, Ijust allow the distractions of lifeto rob me of the opportunity tobe thankful and express thanks,whether to another person or toGod or to both.Let’s turn to the Scriptures nowand see what God tells us aboutbeing thankful. In at least twoplaces in the New TestamentApostle Paul is moved to writeabout being thankful in a generalsense:Ephesians 5:20 giving thanksalways and for everything to Godthe Father in the name of ourLord Jesus Christ, (ESV)1Thessalonians 5:18 give thanksin all circumstances; for this isthe will of God in Christ Jesus foryou. (ESV)So we see that when combined,these two scriptures tell us toalways be thankful for everythingand in all circumstances. Now,you may very well reply that isnot easy to do and sometimesthat seems impossible. And youwould be correct. Interestingly,the verse immediately preceding1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads: “ praywithout ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians5:17 ESV)You may say, I can’t alwaysrun to church to pray, or get onmy knees, or close my eyes andfold my hands to pray, and that’sok. You don’t have to do any ofthose things to pray, just pray!The point is that prayer makes ustake our minds off of ourselvesand causes us to focus on God,if even for just a few moments.Continuously focusing on ourselvesis one of the greatest impedimentsto being thankful. Ourthankfulness must be focusedon God and other people in ourlives. If we are only thankful forand to ourselves that’s not truethankfulness, it’s self-aggrandizement!So as we enter this holidayseason filled with family, friends,food, and fun let’s be conscientiousabout being thankful to,and for God and his Son JesusChrist as well as all the peopleHe has placed in our lives andthat includes the folks you’d ratherchoke than be thankful for!Happy Thanksgiving to you andyours!The LORD bless you, and keepyou: the LORD make his faceshine upon you, and be graciousunto you: the LORD lift up hiscountenance upon you, and giveyou peace. (Numbers 6:24-26UKJV)If you are a Chaplain for yourdepartment, or know a Chaplainwho would like to contribute anarticle for The Chaplain’s Cornerplease contact our office at:bluespdmag@gmail.com12 The BLUES NOVEMBER ‘25

The BLUES - NOVEMBER ‘25 13