Thanksgiving … Give thanks!
By Gary Pearce

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Now that my wife, Dee, and I are empty nesters (at least for the time being), we enjoy taking more time to make meals together. Some are planned and thematic; others are a hodge-podge of recipes from the ‘try sometime’ file. Towards the end of a recent meal, Dee commented on how fortunate it is that we are able to pick and choose what it is we wish to eat. Indeed, our choices seem nearly unlimited, a fact I easily overlook. Many people have no choice in what they eat, while too many others have nothing to eat at all. Table prayers before the next meal carried a stronger note of thanks.

Last week, after one such meal together, we took a walk. The route is one we often walk, so we don’t think much about where we are going. Conversation jumps from one topic to another, with varying intervals of quiet space in between. Along the way are several homes that have been up for sale for quite some time, an unfortunate sign of the times. Because of our shorter days, I also noticed several more homes that were completely dark and vacant where once lights used to be on. Maybe they were rental properties that could not be filled. Maybe they were in foreclosure and no one was even making an effort to sell them. Our home is comfortable, but certainly not the nicest one on our street, let alone our neighborhood. Nevertheless, we gave thanks for it when the walk ended at our front door.

One of our daughters just forwarded an e-mail from one of her best high school friends. In it she requested prayers for her Mom, who is in the hospital and very sick. They are testing for what is wrong, and the family fears what might be found. She has already lost her Dad to cancer. Can this really be happening to their family again? And again I am reminded to give thanks for my health.

Pat Taylor Ellison is nearing the end of her 40-day quest looking for peace, abundance, shalom (www.blog.churchinnovations.org). During our Dwelling in the Word time this morning, Pat remarked that it seems easier to see peace when you extend it. The very process of declaring peace helps identify the peace that is already there. The same can be said about thanksgiving.

It is good to give thanks, to be truly grateful for all that we have. And it is good to give thanks, for giving really does help us see.

Thank you for all the time you volunteer to organizations near and dear to your heart. Thank you for using your financial resources to help those in need. Thank you for all those lifted up by your prayers. Thank you for being willing to extend the peace!

Your support of the work of CI is important to us. Your goodwill, your financial gifts and your prayers all extend the peace to us, and strengthen us as we extend the peace to the church.

God’s peace to you this day, and throughout the holiday season!

Gary S. Pearce is the Finance Manager and Director of Development at Church Innovations.