In the ten-year history of the Monday Memo, I have never done one with a Thanksgiving theme. Since this coming Thursday is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States, I thought it was about time that I did so. Without further ado, let's celebrate Thanksgiving together, no matter where in the world you live.
THE OLD FOLKS
When I was younger, I would ask some older folks in church, "How are you doing?" They would answer, "I got up this morning, so I am fine." I remember thinking, "That's kind of simplistic." Now I am 61 years old and I have buried some of my friends and peers. When I arise in the morning, I now find myself thanking God that He gave me another day. Suddenly what those older folks had to say doesn't sound so strange.
In fact, when I get up these days, I have a litany of things for which I give thanks. I won't go into them here, but with age comes the realization of and appreciation for what the Lord had done for me, in me and with me. I meditate on what the psalmist wrote: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). I don't know how many days I have left, but let's say I live to be my mother's age of 92. That means I have about 11,000 days left. If I live to be my father's age, I have about 7,000 left. While that would be nice, I may only have one left, so I want to make the most of each one of them, whether one or 11,000.
In order to do that, however, I must flow from a foundation of gratefulness, to God first for His unmeasured grace and to others, who have also extended me much grace in light of my imperfections and sinful tendencies.
THE QUOTE
This past week, I posted a quote on FaceBook that caught a lot of people's attention. Picasso, the great painter, once said, "Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." While I am very thankful for today, I want to make the most of it by doing what I can with what I have. I want to run as fast, as far and as long as I can, and if that is a month longer or 30 years, I am already thankful for whatever opportunities the Lord gives me.
As we approach Thanksgiving Day this week in the U.S., I urge you to make it a day of thanks that won't exist in isolation but will become a regular part of your daily devotions and discipline. Then once you have thanked God for His goodness, I want you to attack the days you have left, to number them as the psalmist wrote, so you will have a heart of wisdom.
If you live in the U. S., Happy Thanksgiving. If you live outside the U.S., I invite you to join me in a day and a lifestyle of gratitude. Have a blessed week!
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ZIMBABWE, HERE I COME: I will be back in Zimbabwe for the first time since December, 2007 starting November 27. If you would like to be part of my visit, you can read about my schedule here. I look forward to seeing all my friends there when I return.
NEED FOOD MONEY: I depart this Friday for Zimbabwe and Kenya. I can certainly use more cash to distribute to the orphans and widows there. If you can give a special Thanksgiving offering, please do so through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you!
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