Quote from Monday:
Thanks-giving
A commitment to giving thanks
A commitment to giving
Yesterday in the U.S. was the official Thanksgiving holiday, a day set aside for feasting, football, family, and giving thanks.
For lots of folks, today is another holiday: Black Friday, a day set aside for sometimes-frantic shopping.
Nothing wrong with shopping. I’m all in favor of giving – and receiving – gifts. This isn’t about that.
Question for today:
As part of thanks-giving, will we remember a commitment to giving?
Someone once said that authentic gratitude is like breathing. It only works if you take it in and then release it the same way. It’s a great image – inhaling gratitude for all God’s blessings, slowly and deeply, and then exhaling by giving to others.
Imagine attempting to inhale, over and over, without ever exhaling.
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We receive many messages from the kids at the Home of Hope thanking us for our efforts. It’s remarkable that they know there are people halfway around the world riding bikes to support them. In the midst of their own struggle, they take time to express gratitude.
During the pandemic, our kids put together small bags of food and shared them with neighbors impacted by disease and isolation. Kids recovering from the pain and trauma of human trafficking, reaching out to love their neighbors.
Breathe in. Breathe out.