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Thanksgiving – A Shared Blessing

A few Thanksgivings ago I re-read Paul’s comments in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you . . .” Then I decided to do an out-of-the-ordinary thing, which has become an annual ritual. I selected a few people for whom I had been especially thankful that year and let them know it as a part of my Thanksgiving observance. While I was thankful to God, I also wanted these special people to know of my gratitude for them. I assumed it would be a private thing and the blessing would be mostly mine. About the third year I did this, one of the recipients of my Thanksgiving messages was a former student of mine who was successfully serving as pastor in a town of some long-time friends . Although they were not members of his church these friends shared with me the high regard in which my former student was held by all in the town. I simply wrote him and thanked him. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, I challenged the members of the church where I was serving as Interim Pastor to join me in this practice of sharing gratitude. Two Sundays following Thanksgiving, the “small, small world” syndrome kicked in. My former student, the recipient of my thanksgiving letter, was the pastor of my church member’s mother. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, my former student had shared my letter in the pulpit as an example of how to add meaning to Thanksgiving. And word spread. My Thanksgiving blessing was no longer mine alone. Why not join me this year. Select a few special people and let them know your gratitude . . . and don’t forget to also thank God for the role these special people have played in your life.

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