I was gathering my thoughts about thankfulness when Bruce gave me his post to share on our ministry page yesterday (also shared here). This is one of those things that blesses my heart - reading his thoughts, his testimony.
For Thanksgiving, I prepared my first complete meal since moving to the DC area in 2012, at my house, for my two younger adult children and my husband. We enjoyed a delicious and wonderful time together. All during the preparation and cooking/baking (both my children contributed their food specialties - my son, his "Ambrosia Van Wynn"; my daughter, sweet potato pies and mac & cheese), my heart was warmed by the sounds and smells of what has always been our family tradition. I marked that: THANKFUL! The beautiful, thoughtful prayer over the food and family that my husband offered: THANKFUL!
After our meal, the kids and I joined our other family at the home of my sis-in-love. And the thanksgiving continued. I was blessed by the sharing of testimonies, praise and thanks given by each one present. We worshiped, singing the old songs of Zion, and some newer Gospels - extolling the love of our Lord and Savior. Overwhelmed by the words of my family members toward one another, I realized how important it is to speak love and life to one another at every opportunity, "while we yet live; while we can hear it." And I said so. Everyone was in agreement. The last time we gathered together was earlier this month as we said good-bye to a dear aunt; she had lived 90 years. But life is fleeting. As the Bible says, we are a mist that appears for little while and then vanishes; like a mere breath, our days like a passing shadow (paraphrase James 4:14 and Psalm 144:4).
My take-away from this experience, something I have known for some time, is I must seek out opportunities to uplift, encourage, and affirm whoever the Lord puts in my path. As Bruce wrote so well in his post
The Lord has orchestrated every person we meet and every situation we encounter. We should be thankful for the results of those meetings and situations.
As I think on these things, my prayer is for the Lord to use me and all of us who name the name of Christ, as conduits of His love, mercy and grace; that we use our time here wisely, and for His purpose, first and foremost.
When I think about the love toward me from the greatest Lover of all, I mark that: SO THANKFUL! Because without His loving us first, showing us the way, we wouldn't know how to truly love Him or one another.
Let's think about that every day - and as my husband said - spend time contemplating and articulating ALL we have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving, for believers, isn't merely the last Thursday in November.
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