Thanksgiving Blessings
Thanksgiving Blessings
He who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop. (1 Cor. 9:10)
Megan opened the e-mail from Susan. She hadn’t heard from her in forever. To her dismay Susan’s e-mail told the story of her husband’s multiple infidelities and their subsequent divorce. Now, Susan, who had been a stay-at-home mom and homeschooler of three, was living in her friend Lisa’s basement rent-free. She had lost her home in foreclosure, and she and the kids had nowhere else to go.
Susan knew that believers who were able looked “after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27), so, for the sake of her children, she included a list of basic needs such as pantry items, babysitting, and school supplies.
Megan knew she needed to connect with her hurting friend. She asked God to show her how to love Susan during this time and to give her wise and understanding words to say as she picked up the phone. During the conversation Megan learned that Susan and her children would celebrate Thanksgiving by themselves. She had no family in state, and Lisa was going out of town. Without hesitation Megan invited Susan to come to her house for Thanksgiving. Susan hesitated at first, not wanting to inconvenience Megan but soon agreed it would be nice.
Perhaps you have so much to be thankful for this year, you’ve run out of fingers and toes to count your blessings on. Maybe, instead, this is a tough year for you. You’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, a financial difficulty, or some other challenging circumstance. Ask the Giver of all good things how to reach out and connect, especially at times like Thanksgiving, either to bless someone out of your abundance or to receive during a time of need.