¡@I observed the Canadian Thanksgiving three weeks ago with a day of rest since it was a national holiday here. There was no turkey, no family gathering, no holiday mood, just the maple leaves telling me to enjoy God's creative design by turning into mixtures of yellows, reds, and greens. I am still feasting with its endless beauty. It is only the beginning of November, yet I found myself anticipating the "real" Thanksgiving's arrival! You must be chuckling over my Americanism. Anyway, as I contemplate on "how can I say thanks for the things You have done for me, things so undeserved yet You gave to prove Your love for me, the voices of a million angels would not express my gratitude, all that I am and ever hope to be I own it all to thee..." I echo with Andraé Crouch in his song-- My Tribute.
No words can ever express our thanks; no deeds can ever convey our gratitude, yet as I came across Henri Nouwen's perspective in With Burning Hearts: "Thanksgiving...comes from above... It is freely offered and asks to be freely received. That is where the choice is! We can choose to let the stranger continue his journey and so remain a stranger. But we can also invite him into our inner lives, let him touch every part of our being and then transform our resentments into gratitude. We don't have to do this. In fact, most people don't. But as often as we make that choice, everything, even the most trivial things, becomes new.... Even the most insignificant event speaks the language of faith, hope, and above all, love. That's the life in which everything becomes a way of saying "Thank you" to him who joined us on the road."
This is a challenge thought, to express thankfulness with our lives rather than words or deeds. I am thankful I choose to walk with Him and talk with Him; I am grateful He chooses to listen and enable me to bear fruit for Him. In this exchange of decisions and building of a relationship came the transformed life. May the Lord continue to transform our lives and to use us to impact and influence more lives to be transformed. My friends and comrades in Christ, on behalf of our missionaries, thanks for giving your time in getting to know us, praying for us, sharing our loads, and walking with us on this pilgrimage road. May our lives reflect a thankful heart devoted to Him!
- Judi Chow -
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