Psalm 36:7,  “How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”  

One day I had to run to the store for a few things and Abby went along.  We knew it would be busy because so many people were shopping for their Thanksgiving meal.  When we got to the section where the butter, eggs, etc., were, I saw a woman who was also headed for the butter so since we got there first I opened the cooler door for her and told her to go ahead and she was livid.  She snapped at me and told me to “just go ahead!” Uhmmm, okay, I was a bit confused, but I did and she stood there shaking her head the entire time.  Abby was horrified and made a comment about how angry the woman was when we walked away, so I told her, “We don’t know what she is facing, or what she is going through, so all we can do is show her kindness and pray that whatever it is that is hurting her so badly will be soothed by God.”  When we got to the self-checkout one of our friends that works there made the comment that so many people are angry even more than usual this year.  It’s heartbreaking that there is so much anger in the world. God has called those of us who have accepted Him as our Savior to be the light, be the love, show the hope, that is only found in Him!  Prepare yourself, Black Friday is coming so if you plan on going ask yourself if that thing you are going to get a deal on is worth a fight or if are you willing to go and take the chance that there may be one left and you are going to need to show God’s love and grace to someone else and let them have it?  It’s crazy that we have gotten to a point in life when one of our daily struggles is needing to be able to show love and kindness where there seems to be so much hate and anger.  People are hurting and unresolved hurt usually turns into anger ~ choose to show God’s love to those around you, you don’t know the loss, or heartache of what that person may be facing.

On a whole other note…. I am already hearing people complain because some people have chosen to decorate for Christmas and here in America we haven’t made it past Thanksgiving.  It’s ok!  You don’t have to decorate for Christmas yet if you want to keep your Fall and Thanksgiving decorations up and enjoy them a bit longer, but even though someone else does that doesn’t mean that they aren’t Thankful.  Maybe they want to show their Thankfulness for the fact that Jesus came to earth and they are combining the two together.  Whatever the case may be, it just isn’t worth your getting worked up over, let it go.  Enjoy Thanksgiving and be thankful regardless of whether or not you have Fall decor up or you have chosen to put your Christmas decor up or maybe you don’t celebrate either so you don’t have either up.  Just be thankful this season, regardless of where you are in the world.  Praise God for who He is and the grace and love He has shown us and make sure you are sharing that with those around you and those you encounter, even in the grocery store.  Focus on Jesus and His love for you and every single person that crosses your path.  How would He have you treat them?  Walk with Him through these holidays so others will come to know Him through you.  

Quote:  Each one of us one day will be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living, by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth, by our simple goodness, not by our seeming greatness.”  ~ William Arthur Ward