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ps from ps I hope your focus tomorrow is not just on Thanksgiving. My hope for you on that day, this day, and in the days ahead is an incredible focus on thankfulness. Not just one holiday worth or one meal worth or one Bills win worth. But instead, because that is how we are designed and it can be moment-day-circustance-life-changing. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes 5:18) Not just for one day. Not just when we gather around a table. Not just if the turkey is perfect. Not just if we score the right amount of goals tonight. It’s the will of God for us. The design of our very being. Intrinsic to who and what we are. From start of life to end of life. And if you are still reading this, I know you are somewhere on that spectrum in between “start” and “end” of life. And on that spectrum, not every day turns out to be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! Some days are hard. Some moments are shattering. Some circumstances challenge us to our very core. And the incredible invitation in those moments especially is to be turned toward thanksgiving. Turned toward the positive that is still there in the negative circumstance. The light that is still there in the darkness. The hope that is still there in the seemingly hopeless. Notice, Paul didn’t write to the Church and tell them to be thankful FOR all circumstances. He said IN all circumstances. Because even IN the toughest moments, we still have breath. We still have love. We still have hope. We still have God’s presence holding onto us. Tomorrow, I hope your turkey is awesome. I hope the Bills crush Detroit. I hope every person in your/my crazy family gets along and no one drives you nuts. I hope your travel is easy. I hope your Turkey Trot time is good. Give thanks for all that stuff for sure. But I also hope you’ll start today, and carry through to Friday and beyond, a spirit of thanksgiving in all things: good, bad and ugly. And even for a moment of breath to breathe in God’s love for you in the toughest of times, may you give thanks. Lord, thanks. In all of it. Amen Be well, safe, warm and blessed, ps |