Alive Parents

Thanksgiving. It always feels like Thanksgiving gets here at just the right time. Halloween is kind of annoying, and Christmas, while I love it, always seems so busy. But Thanksgiving is like a faithful friend; it shows up right when you need it to, it doesn't need a lot of hoopla, and when it's over, you always feel re-charged.

Tradition holds (by tradition, I mean Google) that the first Thanksgiving festival was held in New England in 1621, when, after surviving the harsh New England winter and reaping a bountiful summer harvest thanks to the help of the local Indians, the pilgrims and Indians got together for a 3 day feast. Pilgrim, Edward Winslow (who knew Eddie Winslow was a pilgrim before he was Urkel's brother?), in reminiscing on that first Thanksgiving, said, "And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE… FAR FROM WANT.”

I have experienced times in my life that have seemed more or less plentiful than at other times. I've experienced great joy watching my kids laughing and have success. I've watched students as the lightbulb clicks on in their head about who God is and who they are in response. At other times, I've seen families struggle through the brink of financial failure. I've watched from too far a distance as my dad struggles with a debilitating disease that occupies every minute of both his and my mom's lives. In all of these things, BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD, I'M FAR FROM WANT!

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Rome, lays out the case against us as sinners, who have said in our hearts that we trust ourselves more than we trust God and our actions have followed suit. Then, rich with hope, Paul describes how, through Christ, we have been set free from the penalty of the law and been given the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, having the hope that though we still have trials in this world, we are not of this world. We have been adopted as sons and daughters and are heirs with Christ. After having said all of these things, Paul reaches his crescendo, declaring, "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him, graciously give us all things?…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…No, in all of these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV, emphasis is mine).

Happy Thanksgiving. By the goodness of God, I'm far from want!