Thanksgiving–making my list and checking it twice

Christmas is usually the time we think about making our list and checking it twice. But as I woke up this Thanksgiving morning, I began to think about my Thanksgiving list. No, not the last minute list of things to grab at the grocery, but the things in the last year that I’m truly thankful for.

I’m thankful for friends who have persevered through hard times.

Some of my friends this year have had a hard go of it. They lost a spouse or lost a parent. They lost their job or lost their health. While it’s been painful to watch them in their pain, its been encouraging to see them persevere.

Romans says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

I’ve gained courage to face my future–whatever it might be–by watching those who have persevered through their personal challenges.

I’m thankful for friends whose desire to learn inspires me to do likewise.

As we age, it’s easy for the learning process to slow down. We know more about our spouse than we did when we first got married, and we know more than enough to get by at our job. Why learn more? This year my friends have encouraged me to learn more because they knew more.

I built a tiny house with friends, and was amazed at their knowledge in the trade disciplines. I sat with an old friend who explained life goals and planning to me with an ease that made it seem possible. I spent time with a new believer, whose necessary dependence on the Lord caused him to read the Bible tirelessly. My friends’ desire to learn has inspired me to study more, discover more, and put into practice (what I know ) more.

I’m thankful for the friends I’ve yet to meet.

In making my Thanksgiving list and checking it twice, I realized that it contained many friends–both old and new. I’m equally thankful for both. It got me thinking: what about those friends you and I might meet during the upcoming year? If we slowed down long enough to hear their story what might we learn? If we engaged in new adventures with them how might we be inspired?

Jesus made sinners his friends (Mat. 11:19), Jesus even called Judas his friend (Mat. 26:50), and Jesus refers to us as his friends (John 15:14). This Thanksgiving I’m thankful for friends.

So many friends. So much for which to be thankful.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.