The Thanksgiving holiday brings the spirit of gratitude and
thankfulness more fully into focus. I realize should never forget to be
thankful for my many blessings but sometimes life just seems to get so busy
that I need a reminder to keep that "attitude of gratitude" in the
forefront.
Tonight was a sharp reminder of all I have to be thankful for...
I just got home from welcoming 29 homeless people to our church.
Our church is the sheltering church this week. I volunteered to
go to our church each evening to greet our guests, welcome them to a warm place
to stay, and serve them food.
We provide
our guests with tangible physical comforts like an air mattress, blankets, lots of food, winter clothes, hats and scarves, and
a warm place to sleep. We also provide them with some non-tangible things like hope,
comfort, companionship, and safety for the night.
Our guests tonight are both male and female, some old, many young. Some are solemn and quiet while others
return our smiles and readily engage in conversation with us.
They are back and brown and white. They are from all walks of
life. One was a farmer, another a builder. One has quite a bit of education
while others have little. Some are physically ill while others suffer from
mental illnesses. Some were born here and others just recently arrived.
All of them are doing what they can to survive and that is why I
was fortunate enough to serve them this evening.
In this season of thankfulness, I am feeling quite lucky. I have a roof over
my head, plenty to eat, amazing kids and grandkids, and a multitude of awesome friends.
That is why I am feeling especially grateful, thankful, and blessed this evening.
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