Giving Thanks Through Faithfulness

On this Thanksgiving Day, the story of Daniel in the lion’s den offers us a powerful reminder of what true gratitude looks like. Daniel has risen to the highest levels of the kingdom, yet jealousy surrounds him. His enemies manipulate King Darius into passing a law forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. But Daniel does not panic. He does not hide. He simply goes to his room, opens his windows toward Jerusalem, and prays—three times a day—as he has always done. His faithfulness is calm, steady, unshaken. Daniel teaches us that gratitude begins where pride ends. He recognizes that every blessing—his wisdom, position, protection—comes from God. And so, he remains faithful. His regular prayer, his turning toward God, becomes his thanksgiving. Even when threatened, his first instinct is not fear, but prayer. This is the heart of Thanksgiving: not a single day marked by a meal, but a life anchored in remembering who God is and who we are before Him. Today we also see where the early Christian tradition of praying facing the East—and praying at set hours—comes from. Daniel’s posture is not superstition but orientation: turning his heart and body toward God’s promise. Prayer for Daniel is not a routine to check off; it is his way of belonging to God. It is his “yes” to the covenant. His daily Shema— “Hear, O Israel”—is a declaration of trust: The Lord is one. The Lord is faithful. The Lord is our life. On this Thanksgiving Day, we are invited to ask ourselves: How faithful is my prayer? Not how perfect or how eloquent, but how steady, how honest, how grateful? Prayer can become routine, but some routines are holy. Just as we eat daily, sleep daily, and breathe constantly, the soul needs its daily turning toward God. Even Jesus taught His disciples a prayer to be said repeatedly—the Our Father—so that faith becomes woven into the rhythm of life. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of upheavals and distress, yet He tells His followers to stand tall and lift their heads, “for your redemption is at hand.” In other words: Do not let fear define you. Let faith and trust define you. Daniel did exactly that. Surrounded by plots and danger, he continued his prayer with serenity—trusting that God was acting even when he could not see how. Thanksgiving is not merely remembering blessings from the past year; it is recognizing that God is present now, working now, saving now. Like Daniel, we give thanks best by remaining faithful: faithful to prayer, faithful to the truth, faithful to love, faithful to the God who has never stopped being faithful to us. So today, let our Thanksgiving be more than words—it must become a posture, a turning toward God with open hands and open hearts. May our prayer be real, simple, steady—an encounter with the God who carries us through every lion’s den and every season of life. And as we celebrate, may the saints and martyrs who remain faithful intercede for us. May they help us stand firm with grateful hearts, now and always. Happy Thanksgiving and may the Lord bless you with a faithful and joyful heart.