11.24 Message From The Link - Thanksgiving
I’m grateful for the holiday season. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it forces me to think about what matters the most in my life. In the very tiny middle of all the consumerism and endless promotions, there are messages encouraging me to remember my family, share giant meals together, and celebrate the happier times in life. It’s too bad that I need these to remember sometimes as if I don’t have lots of things staring in my face that should remind me.
Since Thanksgiving is a day or two away and we’re determined to make twice as much food as our families can eat, it reminds me of the feasts and celebrations in the Bible. We get to gather around the table with our families and friends to share a meal and share life together. Even in our disfunction we seem to be able to find the wholeness of the times we used to know for a few hours. How many of you sit around the table catching up on what’s new but also spend just as much time remembering the “good ol’ times?"
Even in our conversations, we remember what we’re thankful for. We’re thankful for those times of peace and joy among our families and in our relationships. I think this Thanksgiving, we could spend a little more time remembering what we’re thankful for in each other and work on restoring some of that brokenness. Some of us may just need to work on closing the space between us.
For those of us that are blessed to have a family to sit around a table full of food with, think about those who don’t. They are all around you. In today’s times, your physical neighbor might be sitting at home on Thursday alone. I encourage you to pray for them. I encourage you to pray that between now and Christmas you may meet someone in that situation. It might provide a new perspective for your Christmas celebration.
I want to share what I’ve been reminded of in the last week that is leading my thanksgiving spirit. It’s hard not to get caught up in works when you run an organization like NeighborLink.
All of us have something to be thankful for this week. It’s easier for some of us to list those things off than than others, but I believe if we think hard about it, we can come up with something.
For you that have fresh wounds from hurt relationships or life’s circumstances that when thought about hinders your ability to be thankful, rest knowing that there is a God that knows your pain. My prayer will be for you.
Grace and Peace be with you.
Andrew
Be Courageous!
andrew@nlfw.org
260.710.7611
