October 2011 Newsletter

Hospitality by Robin Rosebrough

Next month, many of us will sit around the Thanksgiving table and declare what we are most grateful for. Adults will undoubtedly cite family, friends, faith, health and financial security. Younger members, forced to put down their iPhones, will probably name friends, followed by the family pet, parents, and their brothers and sisters. Thanksgiving is a big day to be grateful in a big way for big blessings. But what does it mean to "be grateful for the little things" in our day-to-day lives?

Paul's instruction to the church at Thessalonica says, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Our human natures instinctively resist giving thanks during trying times. When we fail to acknowledge God's tender mercies, we lose our joy and contentment and slip into ingratitude. Gratitude must not be left only to spontaneous moments, but must be chosen every day.

I keep a gratitude journal as described by author Max Lucado. He suggests writing five things -big or small-- that we are grateful for every day. Some days it's easy for me to record five things; other days, I have to think hard about it. One of the five things I regularly jot down in my journal is my gratitude for the relationships I have in my life. Cultivating relationships in this age of technology has never been easier. Texting, e-mailing, Facebook, and Twitter provide instant communication. Haven't heard of these? Just ask your children or grandchildren. I can give thanks for the cashier at Publix and the attendant at the corner dry cleaners for doing their jobs well. And sometimes I give thanks for the people God, in His perfect plan, intends to put in my life in the future. No matter how hard my day has been, I can find something to be grateful for.

Gratitude should not be expressed in words only, but also in action. What better way to take action, in the spirit of thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving table, than to invite someone over to your house that you've never invited before? Perhaps invite that single mom and her children down the street to supper? Maybe invite the widow you see every Sunday at church for tea? Look around to see who is alone or suffering at this special holiday time. Scripture says simply, "Be hospitable." What if each one of us responded to that command by giving the gift of hospitality to someone we know who needs it? When you do this, I think you will find that the gift is really yours. And then start your gratitude journal. You'll already have the first of your first five things to be grateful for.

This is a perfect season for soup and bread--the easiest meal to make ahead. Make this delicious pumpkin bread (courtesy of our own Eleanor Lewis) that makes TWO loaves and serve it to your guests with your favorite pot of soup. Happy thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Bread