As Thanksgiving arrives in 16 hours (as I write), we are almost done with our #CountYourBlessingsChallenge. But notice our seven-day challenge will extend beyond the actual day of Thanksgiving. Hopefully, our attitude of thanksgiving can extend beyond this one special day as well.
Shouldn't every day be a day of conscious gratitude and purposeful Thanks-giving? Being in relationship with the Creator and King is enough. Yet, there is so much more.
The theme for today's thanks-giving is "Home." I am so thankful for my homes - all of them. For country, for community, for my church home, for my family origin home, and for "my" home - all of them blessings from His hand.
This country I call home -with all its flaws and all its potential- is an amazing institution with great flexibility and resilency and I feel both priviledged and undeserving of the great responsibility of having been born here. Born in a place of great resources, physical & spiritual, my mission in life must be not to acquire only, but to steward.
For this town in which I live, the familiar streets and spirit of belonging it extends to all who come to dwell here.
For my specific church home, one part of the Body of Christ, but such a warm, welcoming place to worship and to serve Christ here. I love being a part of a body that sees itself as a conduit, not a resevoir.
And, yes, I am also thankful for the dwelling place we call home. Most of my life has been spent in a series of little houses, 800 sq. ft, 600 sq ft., 732 sq ft...mostly with 5 or 6 people. You know, it truly isn't the size or the beauty of the house that makes a home. My kids' favorite memories are of a home we rented out on an old dairy farm. the house was 732 sq. feet, the back yard was 600 acres. We lived across from the tractor barn, and their after-school hours were often spent hanging on the fence talking with the workers, or riding their bikes through rows upon rows of brocolli, strawberries, or just newly turned dirt.
After a long trip away, as we head home down the Conejo Grade, I can always spot "my" home (Well, I think. There are more lights these days. I used to be able to do it for SURE!) My heart swells, my eyes mist, and I think how very, very good it is to be home.
And, finally - eternally - I am thankful for my permanent home. I have the word of no less than my Lord & Savior that he is making a place for me. I think about it now and again, mostly wondering, sometimes with suggestions (!), but always reveling in that same feeling I get when coming down the grade after a long time away. I know that - someday - it will be very, very good to be home. And I am so thankful!
Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity