Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, the beginning of a four-day family gathering unsurpassed by any other celebration in America, even Christmas. Along with being Thanksgiving Sunday in a lot of U.S. churches it will also be the first Sunday in the season leading to Christmas called Advent. There are themes for each of the weeks in Advent beginning with hope, followed by peace, joy, and then love. So what will American pastors do with the crossover between gratitude and hope?
One suggests that the two go together well and I'm wondering about exploring the mash-up of Thanksgiving and Advent hope myself. As I muse away I realize that when I am grateful to God I am inclined to have hope for my life and the world I live in, and vice versa. When I am ungrateful for the simple gifts around me I am more inclined to pessimism and cynicism.
Even though most of you are Canucks, can you muster some gratitude today? What are you grateful for and hopeful about in your life?
3 comments:
Although, it would only make sense to other dog lovers, I am most grateful today for Avery. She is my constant reminder of how simple it is to embody love and faithfulness.
I am grateful for my family, my church, my God, my country, my health, my friends, my job, my community, the support of others and my ability to support them. I am hopeful for all on the above list, a crossover of gratitude and hope encompassing all that I love.
For health and strength, and daily food came to mind at gracetime ...and a peaceful country, as I read today's paper, and 3 healthy and happy kids, a partner to share life with and a loving God to walk with in hope...and, and, and....
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