When I was in college at USL, I had to read for an English class several novels by Kurt Vonnegut including “Slaughterhouse Five,” “Cat’s Cradle” and “Breakfast of Champions.” Over the years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays and five works of nonfiction. He passed away in the year 2007.
Kurt Vonnegut once talked about going to a party at the home of a billionaire on Shelter Island in New York. A good friend of his also went to the party, another famous author, Joseph Heller.
At the party he said to his friend, “Joe, how does it make you feel to know that our host just yesterday could have made more money than your novel ‘Catch-22’ has earned in its entire history?”
Joe Heller responded, “Well, I’ve got something that he can never have.” Kurt Vonnegut said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?” Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) Amazingly, he wrote these words from a Roman prison. How was Paul able to do this? He gave us the answer in verse 13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
So here is a good word for us today: Trusting in the Lord, we can learn to be content whatever the circumstances. Trusting in God, we can be truly thankful in all things.
Let’s make this Thanksgiving a special day, a day of true Thanksgiving to our Creator and Redeemer and Sustainer. Happy Thanksgiving!