Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This week is Thanksgiving week. Things are different this year, really different. Yet, we still have much for which to be grateful. First, I am writing this, which means that I am breathing. You are reading this, which means that you are breathing. Sometimes, that’s all we have, breath. Sometimes, that’s all we need. With breath, we can do the rest.
Second, there are three groups of people whose breath we have been relying upon since things shifted in this world. Those who deliver our healthcare; those who deliver our groceries/packages; and those who work every day to ensure that we have all we need to do what we must do. They breathe to make our lives easier.
At this moment, I highlight all of the people in the travel and hospitality industry who risk their lives for those who must or who insist on traveling to various places for Thanksgiving.
All of these brave and selfless humans give us reason to do as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This week let’s try to do that every single day as often as we can. Let’s use some of our breath to rejoice, pray, and give thanks to those whose breath has made our breathing easier this year. Let’s rejoice because God continually blesses us through them. Let’s remember them in our prayers. Let’s give thanks for their sacrifices and for putting up with us when things don’t go our way as perfectly as we expect. Let’s do the will of God.
Finally, I thank God for each of you. Some of you have been traveling with me since the beginning when I wrote my first blog post in 2009. A few of you even have the original printed version of Love Speaks Daily. For each and every one of you, no matter how long you have been breathing with me on the page, I am grateful. Please enjoy your week, be kind to one another, give yourself some grace, and when all else fails, keep breathing.
See you next week!