Holidays are different now. Not bad, just different. For me, this will be the first Thanksgiving and Christmas since Nicole passed. So it will definitely feel different this year. For some of you, because of covid, your gatherings will be smaller, different. I want to remind us that different is not necessarily bad. It's just…different.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” Rejoice, pray, thank are all important words in that verse. But there is one tiny word I do not want us to miss. ALL. Paul says give thanks in all circumstances.
If you are reading this on the day I posted it, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. There are seasons in our lives when we feel so abundantly blessed that we almost can't help but rejoice. We can't help but gift thanks. Then there are other times in life that are different. Perhaps we are in a season of life where there has been loss, when we are separated or divorced, when our lives have been completely upended by a pandemic or a diagnosis.
What I'm discovering is that even in those times, there is much to be thankful for. Even in the more difficult seasons of life, God's blessings are abundant if we will allow ourselves to see them. In the midst of our setbacks there are new opportunities. As some doors close others open. Old experiences give way to new. I don't know what your Thanksgiving will be like. For some it will be very much like it has always been. For others, it may be different. But I want to remind us to see the blessing in at all. Paul would encourage us to give thanks in all circumstances.
So, while some things may be different this year, I hope we can see the blessings in spite of the change. I want to encourage us, as Paul did, to give thanks in all things.
I also want to take this opportunity to say how very grateful I am for all of you. I give thanks for each and everyone of you for the blessing that you are in my life. I wish you and your families a wonderful, joyful, blessed Thanksgiving.
I love you all.
Pastor Steve
Also, I want to let you know that the Giving Trees are available at all campuses with various gift tags from partners (i.e. Lions club, food pantry, town welfare). If you are unable to get to a campus to select a tag off the tree, there are also tags available online at signupgenius.com/go/904084aa5ae29a46-christmas