On Being Thankful

"... in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thess. 5:18

A story is told about the old man on the pier that couldn't go a week without saying "Thank You!" His name was Eddie Rickenbacker.

If you were alive in October 1942, you probably remember the day that he was reported as missing at sea. He had been sent on a mission to deliver a message to General Douglas MacArthur. With a handpicked crew in a B-17 known as the "Flying Fortress," he set off across the South Pacific. Somewhere the crew became lost, the fuel ran out, and the plane went down.

All eight crew members escaped into the life rafts. They battled the weather, the water, the sharks, and the sun. But most of all, they battled the hunger. After eight days, their rations were gone. They ran out of options. It would take a miracle for them to survive. And a miracle occurred!

After an afternoon devotional service, the men said a prayer and tried to rest. As Rickenbacker was dozing with his hat over his eyes, something landed on his head. He would later say that he knew it was a sea gull. He didn't know he knew, he just knew. That gull meant food - if he could catch it. And he did.

The flesh was eaten. The intestines were used as fish bait. And the crew survived!

Now, here's the 64 million dollar question - "What was a sea gull doing hundreds of miles away from land?" Only God knows! But whatever the reason, Rickenbacker was THANKFUL! As a result, every Friday evening this old captain walked to the pier, his bucket full of shrimp and his heart full of thanks.

How has your week been? Remember, God loves you and you're in the plan. Rejoice and give thanks.