It’s the season for food, family, fun, lights, turkeys, shopping, and the occasional moment of reflection stolen between school programs, cooking, and stress eating. If you’re anything like me, as you age, the importance of having that Pinterest-worthy place setting or Instagram decor fades over time as the hustle and bustle of simply doing life tends to take over. We try to take a moment or two more each year to remember all our blessings. We do our best to instill thankfulness within our children, often using the occasion of Thanksgiving as the catalyst for all those family discussions about what we’re blessed with.

It’s good. This is all good.

But this year I’ve been challenged to take my thanksgiving one step further. It’s a bit of a climb, but will be well-worth it. So stick with me here.

For most of us it’s no surprise that our salvation- what Christ has done in our lives- is THE reason for the season. We are blessed with much, yet the penultimate thanks is for our eternity with the Father.

And yet, being thankful is not the same as demonstrating thankful- exercising thankful- acting thankful… For this indescribable gift we’ve been gifted with Christ, I challenge you this week to turn it around and give the gift to another.

Forgive someone.

Think of that one person, or maybe there’s several, that need to know merciful forgiveness.

They probably don’t deserve it… neither do you.

They may not ask for it… you didn’t for a while either.

They may not even know they need it… while you were still dead in your sins, neither did you.

But sisters, dear friends, for as much as we’ve been forgiven God requires we forgive too. It’s not easy. It’s not glamorous. It is hard and comes with the penalty of abject humiliation of our selves. And yet, how better could we actually be thankful than by demonstrating the very thing we’re most thankful for.

Words are fine. Actions are better. If we are truly thankful then let us make the most of our thankful and forgive.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬