Thanksgiving 2024 - Perspective

“And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’  And he rose and followed Him.  And it happened that as he was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.

“And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, ‘Why is your Teacher eating with the tax gatherers and sinners?’  But when He heard this, He said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

“’But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire compassion., and not sacrifice.,’ for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.’” Matthew 9:9-13 (also found in Mark 2:15-22; Luke 5:29-39)

Living so long in a country that does not celebrate Thanksgiving -- and a country that is more neutral about religion than Christian – this holiday has, sadly, been commercialised for its novelty.  Grocery stores now stock turkey (at a premium price, of course) and many of ‘the fixings’. 

Yet, our perspective of Thanksgiving can get lost in all the rushing and travelling, it can deteriorate into a hard-work gathering and dinner celebration with requisite, ‘What are you thankful this year?’ questions, football game arguments and lots of work cleaning up. 

However, Thanksgiving is a reminder of the stunning and humbling reality that you and I – sinners that we are -- will one day be part of the feast that Jesus is preparing for us in Heaven right now and that is something to really BE thankful for! 

Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.