Let me be the first person to wish you a happy thanksgiving. I have to say that now because I saw on the TV that Christmas movies are already playing. The kids have not even put away their costumes from their annual door-to-door thing and I am watching Christmas movies on television. We are always busy looking down the road for the next thing to scratch off our list. I am hoping celebrating Thanksgiving will not be one of those holidays skipped over in a hurry to get to Christmas.
Speaking of being thankful, I am just that after our optical outreach at the Marquette center. We were able to give away 50 pairs of glasses to those in need as well as brand new clothes and shoes right out of the box! It was truly a blessing to see people’s faces beaming as they left. You could tell they were indeed thankful for the blessing they had just received. The apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Those words in our world today do not make much sense. However, that day I actually saw those words become flesh. Will, a brother in our church came to help at the outreach gripping a brand new leather jacket. The price tag was still attached to it. The first thing he asked me was where he could find the clothes that were being given away? I pointed him to the direction while asking to see his coat he was holding. “Dude” I said, “This coat is brand new, so why are you giving it away?” He told me it was the wrong size, to which I thought, “Boy I wish it fit me, because if it did he would not have to walk one more step to give that coat away! I would gladly help him with his task.” I suggested to him he find a different coat to replace the one he was donating because they had all new clothing, boots, coats, etc. on the giveaway table. His words and his face I will not soon forget, for it was then I saw Acts 20:35 come alive. He said to me, and I quote, “I know what it is to be in need and have to receive from others, but now I am on the other side. God has so richly blessed me to be able to give, and that is what I am here for.” Wow! His face glowed, maybe just as Moses’ did when he came down from Mt. Sinai. The world may never know the simple truth that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive; but on that morning, thanks to my brother Will, I can actually say I saw that truth come to life. May we this Thanksgiving know that truth as well, and may we look for opportunities to give to those around us, for we indeed live in a world full of needs.
Thanking God for the chance to give, Pastor Rick