Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

This is Thanksgiving week. It is a time to pause and give thanks for all that God has done for us. There are two ways to do this, we can approach Thanksgiving Day as a matter of routine, tick the box at the end of the day, and wait to do it all over again in 2024, or we can approach Thanksgiving Day more consciously than ever before. We truly are blessed!

I have been reflecting a lot lately, and wondering how we can all live a little bit more meaningfully in this chaotic world. How can we genuinely honor God for the blessings that abound in our lives? Suddenly, I remembered a piece of writing that I came across ten years ago. I am not sure who wrote it, but I have adapted it below:

Yesterday, while walking along a church hallway, I saw the figure of Jesus sitting alone in a wheelchair, his sight was impaired, hearing slightly compromised. The sound of laughter filled the air. Did anyone have time to spare, to draw him into their circle of friends?

Lonely, amidst the crowd, his fists balled up, aware, yet trapped in poverty and loneliness. Jesus begged God to take his cup, so different from his pictures on many a wall. Otherwise, someone would have recognized him and extended a hand of fellowship to Jesus, alienated in that hallway.

This Thursday as we sit and feast with those we love, our tight, neat, circle of family and friends, Jesus will sit there unseen and expectant. And in the silence, he will whisper, “Do you love me? Do you really love me? Then help include me in your circle of friends and family. It is why we are here, isn’t it?”

And if you take a moment and listen to your heart; you will know how to thank him for all he has done.

Have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!