Dear Friends in Christ,
Many summers ago, I spent a three week vacation in the Sierra-Nevada mountains putting in “sweat equity” on our friends’ vacation house – a home in which we shared many good times over 30 years of friendship. Toward the end of a third 15 hour work-day, their son, who had stopped working with me for the day at 4 pm, asked, “Ed, why are you doing this?” “One word,” I replied, “Gratitude.”

Now, given the look on his face, I don’t think he quite understood me. But, maybe, you do?

Gratitude has undergirded my decision-making in life. Gratitude is the reason I worked in social services and, then, responded to a sense of being called to church ministry. Gratitude has motivated my volunteering of time and energy to community service organizations. Gratitude has led me to make substantive financial contributions to the church and charitable agencies. I am, simply, grateful for life and moved to give to life in return. How about you?

The ancient Roman scholar, Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Contemporary motivational speaker and leadership consultant, Anthony Robbins, says, “When we are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears.”

In this season of Thanksgiving, may you experience fear’s dissipation through your giving of yourself and all your resources. And, then, may abundances of all good kinds appear before your eyes!

Blessings of a Joyful Thanksgiving,
Pastor Ed