We can always find blessings if we intentionally seek them.
My daughter and I were talking on the phone one day this week. She had been sending me pictures of the Christmas decorations that she and her college roommates had been putting up. She was telling me how she normally wants no part of Christmas before Thanksgiving. She has never liked how people just skip over our national day of gratitude and go straight to Christmas. She has always enjoyed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She and my dad love the dog show that follows and she’s a big fan of Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sauce.
But, this year that has been different in so many ways, has her yearning for Christmas. I nodded in agreement as I confessed that I was playing Christmas music on my computer while I worked that day. I was also burning a Christmas candle. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one with Christmas on her mind.
“I think we all need a little Christmas right now,” she said.
I told her what we are all really desperate for right now is Jesus. Our battered hearts are longing for the peace, refuge, comfort, redemption and joy that only He can provide.
She agreed.
After we hung up, I kept thinking about our conversation. It almost seems counterintuitive to be thankful right now when there’s still a pandemic raging, when experts are warning families that it would be safer to stay apart for the holidays, when there’s still unrest in our streets, when an election that should have been decided weeks ago, still drags on. And if you are unfortunate enough to live in the state of Georgia, voices from all over the country are yelling at us at every turn to vote one way or the other.
Yet, as Christians, we are called to be thankful, thankful for the many blessings we have been given, thankful that we woke up this morning, thankful for the friends and family we have been given, thankful that God has given us another day here on planet earth to make a difference. What is counterintuitive for non-believers isn’t for us because we know that we are travelers here on our way to a much greater place where there will be no pain.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
A phone call reminded me that even though our hearts are crying out, Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel, let’s not forget to be a people who shine with thanksgiving. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂