Walking With Christ

It’s hard to believe that it’s Thanksgiving already. This year is almost over. So much has happened. Some good. Some bad. Some parts of this year are still hard to process completely. I know that this Thanksgiving will mean different things to different people. For some, it will be just another day. For others, it will be a day of joy and tears as we walk through the memories that led us to where we are today. Some people would prefer to skip from Halloween straight to Christmas. Despite my childlike love of Christmas (I’m a closet fan of all things Christmas – even Mariah), I fight the urge to skip this day that was almost stolen by big box stores in the name of profits. My wife will attest that I say every year, “No tree before the turkey, no turkey before the treats. The time of treats has passed, so bring on the turkey.”

For me growing up, Thanksgiving was always the start of Christmas season. It was that essential gateway that led us into the season of joy. The entire month of December was always different because people acted differently and treated each other differently. Better. It seemed that old gripes were forgotten for a moment, broken bridges were mended, old wounds were healed, old flames rekindled. It always began with giving thanks for what we had, no matter how much or little that was at times.

Think about that. A season of joy and forgiveness began with being thankful for what we had.

My heart is overburdened with joy this season, because this has been an odd year of exceptional highs and bitter lows. Through it all, I’ve been shown so many things. I’ve seen the depth of the well of mercy and grace over and over. I’ve seen literal miracles (I am one). I’ve laughed and loved and cried until there were no more tears left to give. I’ve been reminded at every turn how blessed I truly am to share all of this with my wonderful wife, three amazing children, and all of you.

Thank you for sticking with these emails. I know that they can be really long. It means the world to me to be able to share the lessons I learn with others.

Psalm 107:1-3 (1) Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (2)Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble (3)and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.(ESV)

Thanksgiving is giving thanks. It seems obvious, but, like so much about what God has done, there is so much more. When we tell others what we have to be thankful for, that is our testimony. That is telling others what God has done for us, in us, and through us for the glory of His kingdom. We often show thanks by giving back to those in need. We share what we have with those who do not. This season reminds us all about why Christ came to this earth and the base truth of His ministry. “So not faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.”, 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV).