thanksgiving first

I can officially say that this is our FIRST actual Thanksgiving Day in Haiti that neither Matt nor I feel a twinge of sadness.  Normally, today as we go about our work as a "normal" day in Haiti, we have been so depressed...heavy with the knowledge of missing out, with the knowledge that it SHOULD be a special day and isn't...that our home culture is all celebrating and we are not.

And yet today, I truly feel nothing but thankful.  The warm glow that Thanksgiving brings resides today, nonetheless.  Maybe it's because we had such a true and meaningful Thanksgiving day on the 18th.

Maybe it's because I'm practicing what I shared this past week about being continually thankful and radiating ceaseless praise.

And as we check facebook and emails today, it's also because you are together.

We are SO Thankful today that you all are together!

Now I know the people you are together with today might drive you a little batty.  And I know a lot of you are sitting around the table today with family who share your genes but not your faith.  And I know a lot of you are celebrating today with people you NEVER imagined God would put you together with (or maybe secretly wish He hadn't!)

The people you are with today might not be where you had hoped they'd be, might not act the way you'd hope they'd act, might say a few things or do a few things that offend.

But you are together.  God has PUT YOU TOGETHER.

And I am Thankful, because TODAY is your missionfield. 

There is no holiday off from that.  No day of rest to NOT be pouring out His love.

Only YOU are in your unique missionfield today.  And in that, we are all together.

Today is your day to be killing sin, not just turkey...to be practicing reconciliation, not counting up the wrongs...to be praising God without end, not wanting...to be opening your hands to God and giving Him ALL, holding nothing back.

Ann Voskamp says that true thanksgiving always precedes the miracle.

Today, I am praying for that miracle in your life--whether it be saying it not saying it, forgiving, praising, opening your hands, sharing, giving, loving.  Being FREE.

Praise the LORD for this new day, Thanksgiving Day for many and a day of true thanksgiving for us all.