I have survived a heart attack! Jean is a breast cancer survivor! We have a nice house and two cars. Our children have good schools. When we want to eat something, we just open the fridge or head for the store or a restaurant. I have a wonderful call, health insurance, and a pension. I am blessed. And I am truly thankful.
But a life is not measured by the amount of stuff we accumulate or by our personal achievements! It’s not measured by the size of our paychecks, the houses we live in or the cars we drive!
But this is difficult to see in our American culture where we are constantly told that if we spend more, buy this, get this—then we will be happy. It can get to a point where it feels like being on a treadmill, making more and spending more, getting more stuff—that we need to work more to pay for. And it can result in more and more stress—and less and less happiness.
But Jesus shows us a better way. He teaches that it’s not about what we can GET that makes us happy. It’s about what we can GIVE that brings true happiness. Jesus describes his followers as generous people who clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, and welcome the stranger. People who give their time, energy and even their money to help make the world a better place.
True thankfulness then, is realizing how much we have been blessed and asking, “What can I do to be a blessing to someone else? Who can I be a blessing to today?”
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to remember that all we have is gift from God. Food—gift. Roof—gift. Cloths—gift. Even life itself is a gift—from God. And God blesses us with these gifts for a reason---so that we can use our gifts (our lives) to be a blessing to others—sharing generously, working to help make the world a better place—the kind of place God created it to be.
May you come to see, with a thankful heart, that you are blessed. May you joyfully do what Jesus teaches, and be a blessing to others.
Thank you God, for your abundant gifts!
Pastor Roy+
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