At this time of the year, when our thoughts wander back to family get togethers, we remember that the food was delicious, and that we had the opportunity to catch up with the activities of out of town relatives over pumpkin pie and coffee. To be honest even though I was raised in a wonderful Christian home, we never discussed what we were thankful for.
As I grew up and got married and had a family, we started a new tradition of going around the table and letting each person voice what they were thankful for. The oldest at the table started off with a thankful heart for his family, and mentioned any new member of the family, and someone would say how blessed we were to live in a free country where we could worship as we chose without fear of reprisal. And, of course, the kids were thankful for the food, their toys and their families also, except maybe for a bratty little brother and we would have to stop and bring a touch of correction at that point.
But after hearing about the conditions our mission team experienced in Equador, I realized I wasn’t nearly as thankful as I ought to be. In entertaining the team, many would take their last coins and go to the market to buy ingredients for a meal to show their gratitude that we came all that way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. If a member of the team admired a plaque on their wall, they gave it freely to them and would not take “no” for an answer. For, you see, it wasn’t what the meal or the plaque cost, it was the joy of the sacrificial giving that made it priceless.
So, this year, I want to do a spiritual “heart check” to make sure I am expressing the deep joy and gratitude to not only those around me, but especially to the Lord who has made it all possible.
How about you?
Brenda Allen