The food is blessed in a moment of quiet submission and appreciation at the dining table to God, followed by a feast of store-bought turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles and rich pecan pie. The kids then run to play, leaving the adults to reminisce or perhaps share stories of the year that is nearly past. 

Yet take note (if you will) the struggles and trials that are experienced with those whose appreciation of what they have is being tested or those who have come through such an ordeal and now possess a greater appreciation for life, much like that in the book of Job in the Bible. 

While there are many such stories that take place in our own neighborhoods, one from the South Pacific should be recognized as an example of just why we should be thankful.

Three teenaged boys from Tokelau Islands—three small atolls in close proximity to each between Hawaii and New Zealand—set out on a small boat in early October traveling from one of the small isles to the next. Reports were that they had been drinking and were attempting to visit several girls of approximately the same age that they had met recently. For their trip, they took only the clothes on their backs and a two-day supply of coconuts. Their trip, however, would turn into nightmarish fight for survival during 50 grueling days at sea.

At some point, the boys became disoriented and lost sight of land. They drifted out to sea and had no extra food or water and lacked shelter from the sun except for a tarp in the boat. Days turned into weeks and rescuers gave up their search. Their families no doubt grieved for their perceived losses without realizing that the sea had not claimed them.

After the coconuts were consumed, the three were able to catch fish from the sides of their boat. They gathered rainwater with the tarp that also doubled as shelter and even ate a seabird that they caught after it landed on their boat. The three teenaged boys had grown weak, malnourished, dehydrated and blistered by the sun over the unbelievable seven-week struggle to simply live.

A fishing boat whose crew was traveling a different course than usual, saw the boys and rescued them from the sea. The crew of the fishing boat—owned by a seafood company—contributed the discovery to luck, since they were bound for New Zealand to unload instead of America Samoa where they normally delivered their catch.

The boat’s captain was knowledgeable in first aid and gave the boys water with added electrolytes initially to strengthen them, treated their badly sunburned bodies and surrendered to them his own king sized bed to sleep upon. He later gave them bread and fruit to eat.

News of their remarkable rescue reached their families and they were overjoyed, thanking God for their safety.

This story was generated by numerous, international news agencies on November 25 and spread around the globe, but many likely overlooked it due to their own offering of thanks, especially in the U.S. as people gathered together on Thanksgiving with their families.

The three teens left their homes with no idea of what faced them. Perhaps they did not board their boat with the best intentions or give any thought to God’s will as they went about their own business.  Still, God was seemingly nearer to them than they realized and would provide for the boys through their grueling tribulation, lost upon a vast ocean.

As they became disoriented and lost their way, we, too, often go about life and suddenly lose our chartered course and need a savior’s compass as stated in one old hymn favorite to direct us. As such an ordeal begins, we often think we have enough to make it on our own as the three boys had just a two-day supply of coconuts, a tarp and the clothes on their back. It is only after we lose our bearings and the supplies run out, that we find ourselves lacking and in need of God’s help. He makes a way for us, however, and demonstrates readiness and willingness to extend His gracious hand to man. (Psalm 33:18-22).

For these young men, he provided fish alongside the boat to catch, rainwater to gather and even a “feast” of meat from a seagull that died so they may be further nourished (Matthew 6:26).  Is this story one of mere coincidences or the ever-loving hand of God? 

Just as the story of the Good Samaritan, the crew found these teenagers adrift, took them in and provided comfort and care, giving them clothes, water, food and ointment for their blister skin. The three were even given great hospitality with the use of the captain’s bed (Luke 10:25-37).

As our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 2:18), He supplies our needs, often times when, like children, we do not understand the full scope of His grace and mercy or when we are so absorbed in our own lives to not appreciate His blessings upon us.  Sometimes, it takes such a life event to bring our focus back upon Him who sustains us.

Such stories remind us that we should be thankful for God’s intercession for us at the cross and in our daily lives, because He never forgets or ignores us and does not grow weary in caring for those He loves.

There is no greater offering for which to express our thanks than a loving God and Creator who desires to be our Savior, as well, through His only begotten Son, Jesus. Even as God still protects and provides, a personal relationship with Him that we receive in faith through acceptance through Jesus is worthy of unspeakable amounts of praise and thankfulness (2 Corinthians 9:15).