Like most people, I am thankful for the obvious things–my family, friends, good food, Cornhusker football:-). But as I reflect on Thanksgiving I find I am profoundly grateful for something else.
A quick look at the last few weeks of my life (and they have been typical) includes involvement with: cancer, death, injury, illness, homelessness, hunger, arrest and jail, crime victimization, murder, betrayal, serious mental illness, unemployment, gossip and backbiting, adultery, drunkenness and drug addiction, immersion in sin–pain.
To be clear, I am not thankful for these things. For nearly 4 decades I have spent my life immersed in these and other horrible things people endure. But I am grateful that God has allowed me the opportunity to be part of their lives as they go through these things. These are times that are crossroads in people’s lives. They will always remember them, and will always be affected by them. And they allow me to be a part of those experiences–to stand by them and share the intimacy of such profound moments in their lives.
Since I came to the Lord I have never been bored! The reason is simple. God lets me be part of people’s lives. For this I am profoundly grateful. I have seen my kids and their spouses develop similar lifestyles, and for this I am grateful. And I know that every person reading this post can share in others’ lives if they choose to be there for them. For that, I am grateful. May each of you have that kind of year, and may each of you experience the gratitude I feel!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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