This Thanksgiving, before the cooking begins, it’s been good to pause for a moment to reflect on all we have to be thankful for this year. Yes, even in THIS year of so much yuck. As I reflected on so many bright spots in the midst of so much darkness, I found myself being thankful even for the darkness.
Why?
Because that’s where the light shines brightest.
There are perspectives I probably would never have learned from had it not been for hidden things coming into the light.
This has been a year of:
~loss & learning
~grief & growth
~barriers & breakthrough
~challenge & change
~trial & transformation
~process & perspective
~confusion & clarity
I have personal examples for each of these that I won’t take the time to share here. But let’s just say, this Thanksgiving, I feel so much more thankful than I was expecting to feel.
Why?
Because I intentionally shifted my focus from all that’s disappointed me this year to all that’s delighted. And you know what? In each moment of darkness I was able to see a glimmer of light. And sometimes a glimmer is all it takes.
It’s not about putting on a happy face when you aren’t feeling it. It’s allowing yourself to feel all the feels and get to the “but God...” in the midst of whatever you’re experiencing.
As we transition into the Christmas season, I encourage you to remember to sit with the One Who is WITH you.
Emmanuel is with you in the:
~loss & learning
~grief & growth
~barriers & breakthrough
~challenge & change
~trial & transformation
~process & perspective
~confusion & clarity
May you encounter & experience His nearness today as you count your many blessings, and name them one by one. I think it just might surprise you what all He has done. Yes, even in 2020.

These are my grandparents on their wedding day. Granddaddy looked especially dapper in his Army uniform.
Thinking of him on this Veteran’s Day. When his enlistment time was up, he penned the following:
“I have just given four years, four months, and fourteen days of my life in the service of my country, and I am proud of every minute of it.”
Then a new realization came to him.
“I feel the same way about my God, how great He is, and I am His child and He is my Heavenly Father. I would gladly die for Him, and from this day on I will do all I can to praise Him, promote Him, and to make the world aware of His wonderful presence.”
And that’s exactly what he did the rest of his days.
Following is an excerpt from one of his sermons:
“The time to teach one to love his enemies is before he learns to hate...A life built upon Christ is properly balanced, and able to endure much. A life built on any other foundation is colored by conflicts of the world; it breaks under pressure, and often goes to pieces. Our lives must be tempered with the spirit of Christian love and fortitude if we are to meet the problems of each day as strong and true followers of Christ.”
Love and fortitude are definitely two traits he modeled so well. He was the kindest man I’ve ever known. We’re talking Mr. Rogers caliber here! 
Even the last several years of his life which were often marked by chronic pain, he praised & promoted Jesus, and made the world aware of His wonderful presence.
I miss him. I’m proud of his service for this country. But I’m even prouder of the legacy of love he left behind.
Granddaddy, I’m doing my best to carry the torch. ​

​Last night we “recalibrated” our clocks. And today we must recalibrate our minds to come back into alignment with standard time.
These days are your thoughts more critical than compassionate?
Perhaps it’s time for a heart recalibration.
Perhaps it’s time to get back to your First Love, Who says to first, love.
People will not know we are Love’s followers by our opinions, our rights, or our religious rituals. They will know we are His followers by our love for one another.
It is time to recalibrate our lives to our First Love.
Above ALL else pushing its way to the front of our thought life. Above ALL else demanding our time. Above ALL else we are consumed with...hmm...election, anyone??
If you, like I, need a reminder of what this looks like, I suggest re-reading 1 John 4, with the guidance of Holy Spirit, perhaps in a translation you’re not as used to, so you see it with fresh eyes.
This beautiful chapter concludes with this powerful statement: Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us! Anyone can say, “I love God,” yet have hatred toward another. This makes him a phony!
Oh, fellow Christ followers, please please please, let’s stop giving the world a phony picture of Who we follow.
First, love.