As we pause to ponder our blessings this Thanksgiving, let us truly reflect on all that we have to be grateful for and thank our Father in heaven for his many gifts to us. And then let us find ways to share those gifts.
St. Francis of Assisi in his famous Peace Prayer said, “It is in giving of ourselves that we receive.” When we give to and serve others, we find those blessings come back to us in the joy and peace of God. By treating our neighbor as ourselves, we expand our hearts to receive God’s love in our own lives. Helping others gives us the grace to grow in love and become who we are meant to be as God’s beloved children.
I invite you to think about ways to spread the love, joy and peace of God to all you encounter by being a blessing to others. Of course, there are lots of opportunities between Thanksgiving and Christmas to donate funds, to volunteer, or to purchase gifts for those who otherwise won’t have anything to unwrap on Christmas morning. But there are many simple ways you can bring God’s grace to others. A kind word or gesture, a loving offer to help or just to listen, a genuine smile when someone seems down, even holding the door for a stranger – these are all small things, but can make someone’s day brighter. As God was generous to us at Christmas, may we be generous to him in return through our care for others.
As the Letter of James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
So let us be unchanging light to those around us who are suffering in these times of uncertainty, war, unrest and division. Let us pray for the peace and unity so needed in our families, country and throughout the world as we gather around our Thanksgiving tables in faith.
And as you count your blessings – for family, friends and loved ones, for health or healing, for the strength to overcome challenges, and for God’s most precious gift – his Son Jesus, who redeemed us by his cross and resurrection – I encourage you to find opportunities to share what you have, in big or small ways, with those most in need.
I wish you and those you hold dear a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. May we strive to live each day with gratitude in our hearts. I am most grateful for every one of you, and I will keep you in my prayers. May God bless you and those you love.