By Rev. Janet Stobie
Thanksgiving weekend is fast approaching. What thoughts do I have to offer?
Richard Wagamese, in “Embers,” his book of devotions, tells us that all we truly have are “moments,” precious moments given as gifts by the Creator God. Let’s think about that this Thanksgiving. What we do with our precious moments is up to us.
We can fill them with busyness, waiting for tomorrow to rest and enjoyment.
We can fill them with anger, reliving in our minds the slights, the hurts, the injuries we have received whether inflicted intentionally, or just happening, unintentionally.
We can focus on envy and jealousy. I want a big house like my neighbour up the street. My sister gets it all. My parents forget about me. That person is stronger, better, smarter than I am.
We can use our moments to look back on our glory days, those days when we ran five kilometers every morning, or when our bodies didn’t hurt. The past that looks better than today.
We can use our moments to focus on complaints, on our unhappiness.
Or we can begin this thanksgiving to use our moments for gratitude. We can choose the road of joy. We can be grateful that we are alive. We can be grateful we have spare change or a blessing bag to share with the person on the street corner. We can be grateful we have a family member or a friend, regardless of our hurt.
While doing research for my third novel, I met with Christian Harvey, Director of “One City,” the shelter herein Peterborough. I asked him, “What should we give your clients when they stand on the street corner holding their sign saying, ‘Hungry. Need work. Is it better to give money or food or gift cards?”
Christian’s reply, “Whatever you give, remember. You’re giving a gift. You have to let go of it. What the person does with it is not your concern.”
God gives us the gift of life. Precious Moments. God offers direction, support, strength, but God does not choose what we do with it. We are God’s children. Like most parents, God smiles or weeps at what we do with God’s most precious gift.
Think about it. Give thanks for your life. At this point in my life I know my moments are limited and therefore precious. I want to use them for joy and love and gratitude. I want to offer God a smile, not tears.
Let’s use our precious moments for gratitude focusing on love and joy. As St. Paul tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:4-9).
Visualize God’s smile joining yours at the end of everyday. May it be so. Happy Thanksgiving.
For more reflections http://www.janetstobie.com/