This Thanksgiving two of our children were in other states. Actually a state. Pretty far from home, but close in our hearts like many, many other families were experiencing for a multitude of reasons. Two others were celebrating elsewhere and not able to come. But this Thanksgiving also brought extended family here to us for the first time - for their first Thanksgiving from halfway around the world. And it reminded me that each day, holiday or not, provides new opportunities for me to relate to new and old friends and family. Instead of wishing for the time when all the children were "under foot" and we were all together (yes, every Mom's wish!), I realized that one of the blessings of grown children is that your family keeps growing in numbers. Even if you don't have grandchildren being born, the grown ones are making new friends, getting married and adding "in-loves" to the family, connecting with new coworkers or roommates or classmates. And it dawned on me this Thanksgiving that I am thankful for new connections. New opportunities to pray for, and with, and about, wonderful, unique, beautifully created people that just last Thanksgiving I didn't know, or knew to a lesser extent. What a wonderful gift. The gift of new connections. The gift of opportunity to share life and share heartaches and share laughter and share memories with old friends and new alike. As a young girl scout we used to sing this song on the camp bus, "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." How very true. But for the believer, it also has a deeper meaning. Connection with fellow believers brings deeper ties than even the best friendship - it brings true sisterhood and brotherhood that is eternal. It brings a shared purpose for ourselves, a shared burden for others, a shared joy in Christ, and a shared beautiful, wonderful, amazing perspective on the true meaning and value of life itself.
Thank you, Jesus Christ, for this day, for these many days, where You have added to that treasure in my heart called fellowship. Thank you for Your Salvation, Your guidance, Your love that blossoms in that sweet temporary fellowship that is only a glimpse of the perfect fellowship to come. Help us, O Lord and Master, to seize the opportunity to expand the fellowship in whatever way you put before us. Help us not to get caught up in the temporary filling of our bellies with worldly things but to keep our eyes on the beauty of the eternal, so that none will be left out of the feast to come. -Amen.
