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The Prophet Isaiah gives us somethings to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day, he says:
“All those who rely upon the God of their creation—in times
of joy or sorrow, sunshine or darkness, calm or conflict—will discover that His
Grace is sufficient; and He will sustain them…” (excerpt from Isaiah 31, from ‘Prophets
Now!’).
Thanksgiving is that time of year where it is a spiritual
moment of rest for many of us. It is as
if the week freezes for just a moment in time to try to encourage us to take
the time out: not only reconnect with family and friends but to break away from
the “blues” of those everyday things we continually lift up to God in prayer
for healing. These many things range from:
Why do these things happen? Why am I in this, “here and
now” and not where I’d really like to be yet? Why am I not “happy?” All these
questions wrapped up into a ball represent what it means to be truly human.
Whether we realize it or are grateful for it, often
enough; God’s Grace is both sufficient and does truly sustain us! God’s Grace
is both sufficient and does sustain us even when we have our head in the clouds
of our daily struggles. Even when for some of us, we are perhaps spending our
Thanksgiving days alone. Even when the
world is more concerned about eating and shopping— God’s Grace is both
sufficient and does sustain us. Even
when loved ones attached to precious memories of Thanksgivings past have been
gone and joined to Jesus, for some several years now… We must continue to be strong and feel deeply
in our hearts: God’s Grace is both sufficient and does sustain us!
Thanksgiving day for the disciple of Jesus, should be
that great agape meal before the “advent,” great expectation of a New journey
ahead. A grand feast where the prize isn’t how many spoonfuls of stuffing can
you down, or goblets of egg nog you can gargle while trying to ‘sing-along with
Mitch Miller…’ The prize is knowing how
far you have come and it is a POSITIVE and joyful realization because the true
meaning of Grace begins to shine from your heart and fill those cracks,
crevices of doubt, sadness, fear and anxiety in your soul!
The picture I have included in this reflection is from either
1980 or 1979. Quite a long time ago with
many of the members of this picture either past on to be with Jesus or are no
longer willing to be in fellowship or contact.
One could choose to grieve those days past… or one could truly choose to
hear Isaiah’s note as song for Thanksgiving: “God’s Grace is both sufficient
and does sustain us” (!) And I would add the hallelujah and the amen to that.
The Living Word of God is just that, it brings us life and instructs us truly
in all that we are to do and say to truthfully realize that joyful feast before
us.
So with this said, no matter where you are, no matter who
you are—whose you are should shine joy over sorrow, peace over conflict and
pain, to satisfy even the hungriest of hearts needing to be filled.
Let us pray:
With this simple day of rest
May it instruct our many days ahead
To be grateful for everything
Both good and bad as teachable moments
Movements of Your Grace in our lives
O most Gracious and Loving Lord
May we join at that table today
With love in our hearts and all else out of mind and body
For this is the Day that You have made
Let us rejoice and BE truly glad for it!
AMEN
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