And then…I took a warm shower. I thanked God for warm water and new beginnings.
And then…I ordered the breakfast of my choice at a
restaurant and had a leisurely meal while talking to someone about the
movement of the Holy Spirit in their life.
I thanked God for choice and Spirit.
And then…I drove to meet a friend who is Muslim and we
discussed why she celebrates secular Christmas and it opened my eyes to God’s
ever reaching hand…even through things that bother me, like secular Christmas. My friend puts up a tree, places gifts under
it, sets a gorgeous table, turns on Christmas music and invites her family and
friends to join her in celebrating – celebrating family, friends, love and the
present of presence, indeed she thanks God for the opportunity. I thanked God that she celebrates and I am
re-thinking all my convictions about “secular” Christmas.
And then…I drove to get gas, in the freezing cold with
blustering wind and this man in line in front of me smiled so broadly and had
so much Joy – and he really looked like Santa Claus. And I smiled because he smiled. I thanked God I could afford gas and that I
have heat and that secular Christmas gives us Santa Claus and jolly smiles and
laughter.
And then…I went to buy a pie and instead I bought cookies. The pie was for fellowship after Thanksgiving
worship tonight. But you see we always
have leftovers and I thought I can’t take leftover pie to anyone but cookies,
cookies I can pack in bags and I can stop by the day laborer site in the
morning and deliver cookies and coffee to those standing in the cold. Yes day laborers even show up on
Thanksgiving, they still meet and fellowship and hope. I thanked God for cookies and perseverance.
And then…I got a call that one of my kiddos is not feeling well. So I picked up fresh produce and other items
for homemade chicken soup. Not to be
prideful but my chicken soup is yummy and healing. And I thanked God for the ability to purchase
healthy food and for a place to cook and serve, and for the memory my child
will have, “my mom always made me chicken noodle soup when I didn’t feel
well.”
And then…I met A&D.
A&D are recently homeless. They were staying at a shelter, and then they
got bed bugs so they moved into their car.
Then they got some help and they moved into a motel that rents rooms by
the week, they have enough to stay this week. A&D have 5 kids, 2 stay with them, twin
boys age 5 who look like cherub angels.
A&D drove to my town from another because they want their kids to
have the stability of the same school but don’t want anyone to know they are
homeless now, they are embarrassed, they feel shame, they don’t want to ask for
help. They rely on food stamps to feed
their family. A&D work. The twins asked my name and wanted to know
what I am doing for Thanksgiving and told me they love their family and they
love to play board games.
And then…it began to lightly snow and I began to pray. I had just gotten money from the bank to give
to my boys to go to the movies with friends and my offering for church tonight.
I asked A&D to wait 20 minutes for me, I would be back. Would they trust me? Would they stay? I
rushed. I took my offering money for
worship tonight and I got a gas station gift card to the station they would
pass on their way out of town. I got a
fast food gift card to a fast food place they will pass on their way to the
motel they have for a few more nights. I
went back, they had trusted, they had faith, they had waited. I gave them the gift cards and the movie
money and I said Happy Thanksgiving.
They smiled like Santa, the two cherubs giggling and they asked God to
bless me as God had blessed them. They
said Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.
And we drove off together on the same road, in the same direction,
praising the same God.
And then…I thought Thank you God, please protect A&D and
their family and I burst into tears. ThanksLiving does that.
About 4-5 years ago I read an article of which I can’t
remember the title nor the authors name and the author spoke about ThanksLiving
instead of Thanksgiving. I embraced that
thought and I began to ask God to open the eyes of my heart. I asked for Christ to be in front of me,
behind me, above and below me, within me feeling with my heart, hearing with my
ears, seeing with my eyes and using my hands and feet. God has answered my prayers. Each moment of grace today led to the
next. Each blessing I received prepared
me to open my eyes to the hurt of others.
A&D found me because I asked God to send them to me. God does answer prayers. God showed me each moment today what I have
been given – shelter, love, friendship, warmth, choice – God wants those
blessings for all God’s children.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we will say Thank You. May it please God we take each day, each
moment and Give Thanks and make the choice for ThanksLiving.
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