Thanksforgiving!

This week is Thanksgiving, and I thought it appropriate to write about this wonderful holiday we are so graciously allowed to celebrate here in the good ole US of A. It is an honor to set aside a day to give thanks for all that we have. We are praying about how our family will celebrate this holiday in light of the needs of people in Third World countries. I think of the precious women we work with in Zambia, how little they have, and how thankful they are to be alive for another day.




So how do you prepare for Thanksgiving? Of course, there is much cleaning and cooking in advance of the big day. Are you stressed out and filled with anxiety? Do you realize the luxury we possess in having homes to clean and food to prepare? Please do consider the tasks at hand as an opportunity to pray for those less fortunate than ourselves. Could we dust and lift up those who are living in garbage dumps or roll out pie crust praising God for a full pantry? Let us be ever mindful of what we have been blessed with and of those who have been blessed with less.



In humbly accepting this day as a reminder of our blessings, some of us are actually living in a place of need ourselves and are wondering what we are going to be thankful for. For some the neediness is financial, for some relational, and for others spiritual or emotional. I would challenge all of us to receive whatever struggles God has allowed in our lives, especially in this economy and in light of all that is going on in our country, to draw us closer to Him. Let’s remember that despite our earthly needs, we always have God. If you were sitting at your dining room table with nothing more than mac and cheese – or maybe you don't have your dining room anymore – would God be enough for you to gather with family and be thankful? I would venture to say that perhaps we will understand more as a country about God in our years of want than in our years of plenty.



I believe this is the time, this is the year to take seriously the day of Thanksgiving, being thankful for trials and for struggles, that we might think more about the needs of those who don't have – don’t have food, don't have clothing, those who don’t yet have God. He alone is worthy of all our Thanksgiving.



We thank all of you who have given to Extending Hands over the years to help us minister to the women in Zambia. We are so grateful for the partnership with all of you and all that you have given so we may show the love of Jesus in a country far away that doesn't have a day set aside to give thanks, though many hearts are thankful each day for another day of life. Let's celebrate extravagantly our thanksgiving to God who is our everything no matter how much or how little we have in this present world.

Excited in the little things...to make something for themselves, a name tag that reflects them! Wow!