The Whole Month

Since I became an adult, my birthday has lessened in importance. Sure, it's a nice day and we usually do something special. It's also almost always a workday so it's mostly like any other day.

I know people who treat their birthdays much differently. For them the whole day is set aside for celebration. And then there are those who think even bigger, for whom the whole month is a celebration of their birthday.

If birthdays can be celebrated for a whole month, why not Thanksgiving? I think practicing gratitude is something worth expanding beyond the fourth Thursday of November. If we did that, what would you be thankful for this month?

Here are a few of the things I'm thankful for:

I'm thankful I get to be your pastor and live here in Texarkana. Of the many parts of the state I've lived in, this is my favorite.

I'm thankful for what God's been doing in our midst, the lives that are being transformed and the people who are growing in faith.

I'm thankful for the ways you pour out your lives for others. I see this in so many areas – our prison ministry, our food ministry, those who work with children and youth. And the choir – it's been great to see the growth in the number of people committed to leading us in worship that way.

I'm thankful for God's work in my life. I've been pastoring for forty years now. I can look back and see progress I've made. I can also see some of the areas where I still fall short.

I'm thankful for God's patience with me and his continued willingness to work through me despite my imperfections.

I'm thankful for my family, for my wife and my kids. I don't know how I'd make it without them.

I'm thankful for creation. Some of you know how frequently I'm out walking at Bringle Lake. Just last week I spent some time walking along the Oconaluftee River among towering tulip poplars, maples, oaks, sweet gums, and sycamores.

What're you thankful for this month of thanksgiving?

1 Corinthians 15:58
Rev. Richard Heyduck