Thanksgiving was always the trademark celebration for my family. It was one time each year that my entire family (my grandmother had ten kids) would reunite in Mississippi, gathering together for a lavish feast. I remember playing football in the backyard with all my cousins while the uncles would be inside watching the games on tv. The whole day was always a rich time of fun, laughter, and great food. If anyone wanted to get to know the my family, they could come to Thanksgiving and get a real taste.

Today, my wife and I try to recreate that same tradition of enjoying family, friends, great food, laughter, and fun on Thanksgiving. And though the holiday has looked different for me ever since I started playing college ball and had practice or games on the day itself, we still take time to celebrate together as a family.

Since becoming a Christian, what I am thankful for has ultimately changed. Before giving my life to Christ, I was always thankful for my family, my health, and all the things that I had in life, but now I have a much deeper appreciation and understanding of what I have been blessed with. I’m so grateful for the life that God’s given me and the Savior we have in Jesus who brought us from death to life. I’m thankful for the oneness that we have with Christ because of His sacrifice on the Cross.

I’m thankful that my perspective has changed—that I’m now able to see and rejoice in what God has blessed me with for eternity.

“God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” —Ephesians 2:6-8

—Demario Davis

Demario Davis is a regular contributor to The Increase and will be providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Demario’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/demario-davis/

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