"In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." - Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving is a time to remember how we have been blessed, but also why we have been blessed. Ever since high school I have always tried to take time on Thanksgiving day to spend some time in prayer and silence to journal and thank God for all his blessings. This is a good practice for all of us and not just on Thanksgiving. To rehearse the blessings of God reminds us of our dependence on Him, is a form of worship, keeps us humble, and develops a heart of gratitude within us. But, as I have gotten a bit older, been involved in ministry a bit longer, heard more people's stories, I find it gets harder and harder to count my blessings without thinking about the people I know who are experiencing great difficulty in their life. People who are not with family today because someone dear passed away unexpectedly this past year, or someone made hurtful and selfish decisions that ripped apart what appeared to be a story book family. Friends who had to make the choice of whether to purchase medication or have a turkey to put on the table today. Friends who have gone through another year praying and believing and today they sit at another Thanksgiving table without a highchair. Or other friends who have seen prayers seeming go unanswered or dreams unfulfilled.

If I didn't know Jesus I might think that these are deserving of pity, and from a distance that might seem to be the case. But, here is what I have learned. When you get up close, when you spend time talking and listening to followers of Christ who are walking through difficult times like this, yes they hurt, often they question, but always there is trust and hope. I am so amazed when I listen to someone enumerate tragedy after tragedy, hurt after hurt and then at the end of it they say, "But, God has been so good to me." Then I think, there it is, that's it. It is the gospel that shines light into the darkness. It is not some flimsy positive thinking or "looking on the bright side" that carries these friends of mine through their difficult time. It is the unending,unconditional, unstoppable, love of God that they know is directed towards them no matter what they might be experiencing at a given moment. Suddenly, what started out as pity, if I am not careful, could morph into envy as I marvel at the trust that they have in God and the love that they have experienced from Him.

So, if in thanking God for all your blessings you, like me, look around and start to ask God, "what about them?" Remember two things: one, there is always something to be thankful for, and don't let what you see or don't see on the outside fool you into thinking God is not at work on the inside. Second, we are blessed to be a blessing and nothing we own is as valuable as that which we give away.