Church community, at its best, is a lifeline. Many of us have communities where if we were going through a financial crisis, treatments for our health or a life change, a meal train will be started, and you may be peppered with visits and phone calls. We give thanks for that. It’s also a reality that we’re not always grateful. Your small group member may have said something hurtful to you. The pastor may have said something you didn’t like in last week’s sermon. Brenda may have, yet again, forgotten to bring your casserole dish that she borrowed at that potluck over a year ago. It’s impossible to be grateful for everyone at all times. It may be time to remind Brenda again that you really do need that dish. 

 

Family is a mixed bag, not unlike our church community. We may love and have great relationships with our parents, cousins and siblings. This is likely the case after a lot of hard work and hanging in through the tough times. Conflict is natural, and big feelings are normal.  We work at seeking to repair relationships while also remembering that sometimes ending relationships is what’s healthy for everyone. We can be grateful for the deep family connections we have while still grieving what has been lost. 

 

Fall is ending, and winter is right around the corner. For those of us who experience extreme seasons, it’s time to put away the t-shirts and sandals that we wore 10 times this abnormally warm fall and bring out the boots and coats. We lament the lack of sun (at least in northern Indiana) and ability to do activities outside, and we stay close to the news to keep track of the sometimes-perilous weather. We can reframe it in terms of being encouraged to live a slower, more cozy life. Taking the time to stay at home, if we have that privilege, connect with our introverted activities, and being thankful for having a warm place to live can help us during the bitter cold. 

 

I am guilty of buying (pun intended) into consumer culture. Some want the latest gadgets, technology, or on-trend clothes. There’s no shame in buying things for ourselves, especially things we need! But before we hit “checkout” at that online store, it might be a good opportunity to pause. I often let things sit for days as I parse out if I really need or want something. Is this purchase impulsive? Is there a competitive or “have to” nature behind this purchase? Slowing down and thinking can be our friend, along with a good dose of being thankful for what we already have. 

 

This may seem like a no-brainer, and it may be a constant refrain we hear at church, but we can always be reminded. That love we experience from our parents, best friends, partners or spouses, the kind of love that gets us up in the morning and gets us through the toughest weeks? That’s the kind of love God has for us. It may feel different since God is a Presence and not so much a person we can touch and see. However, if we can channel what we feel with our people to what we can feel with the Presence, we have much to be grateful for.