One of the problems with a hurried lifestyle is that we do things mindlessly, you know, without intentional thought and we eventually take those moments for granted, and they are inaccurately remembered.
My dad died two days before Thanksgiving in 2015. It was unexpected but expected. He was in a memory care unit; he was declining but not rapidly and one morning he didn’t wake up. When I stood by his bed all of the nuances and the moments, we shared became finite. This was true when he was still alive, but it didn’t feel that way because he was warm to touch, a living being, he still laughed, he could look into my eyes even though he didn’t know who I was some days.
Death turns experiences into memories and the only way to reminisce is through our limited mind’s eye. If we’re living through a photographic moment but we aren’t present, the remembrance will be incomplete. “What? What happened? I wasn’t listening.” “I wasn’t paying attention.” “I was looking at my phone.” Don’t be looking for the thrill of a moment and miss the memory of a lifetime.
To truly express thankfulness it should not be spoken, it must be demonstrated. Because true gratitude is not taking your blessings for granted it is reciprocated as an act of respect. If one truly appreciates, the ‘thank you’ is tangibly given and not uttered.
This Thanksgiving, how can you exemplify genuine appreciation for the sacrifice of a friend, mentor, ministry, family who has girded you in the middle of and beyond your mess without expecting anything in return?
Sometimes the greatest perspective comes from imagining the life you would be living without the people God placed in your journey. Consider where you would be, who you would be, and what might have been lost if that friend, ministry, or family had never been part of your story.
We can do more. We can do better. Together. LOVE GOES
