A Thankful Six-pack
Thursday, November 07, 2013 Posted by Anonymous
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“How long have
you gals been celebrating each others?” The guest asked.
“It’s been over a
decade,” we chimed in around the table. “As single women,” I clarified, “six of
us began getting together for Christmas, then for birthdays. If someone moved
away, another came along to compliment and increase our six-pack.”
I traditionally
hosted the fall birthdays of our group during November, America’s month of
Thanksgiving celebration. I had asked God how I could initiate an attitude of
thanks around the table. After printing off verses with words pertaining to thanks, and reflecting on each verse, I
wrote a word of encouragement on the back. I folded, mixed the verses up, then
placed them by each woman’s plate—not knowing who would receive which one.
When we began
sharing how the verse and what was written on the back, spoke to us personally,
the chatter quieted. My verse had to do with thanking God for His good deeds
and sharing them with others; another spoke of thanking God for His people; another
on how generosity brings forth thanksgiving to God. But the hardest verse for
many, landed in the hands of the woman who had a difficult time getting to our
get-together. Arthritic pain plagued her body.
“I don’t know if
I can get through this,” she said wiping at her eyes as she read: “Thank God in
everything no matter what the
circumstances may be; be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God
for you. (I Thess. 5:18)” Tears rushed forth. “I’m afraid to read what’s on the
back,” she paused to grab a napkin. “Okay, here goes,” she said between sobs. Turning
her verse over, she read her message from God.
“I see every tear that drops. I know your
struggles and hardships. I’m here holding you up every step of the way.”
Now her tears splashed onto her plate.
“As
hard as the pain is,” she continued, “I’m thankful God is there for me.” After a
brief pause, she looked at all of us. “I’m also thankful for each one of
you—your prayers, love, and friendship throughout the years.” By the end of the
evening, we had our Christmas gathering scheduled and planned. :)
God has given our
group more than a six-pack of faithful friends over the decade. He’s given us a
family: a safe place to share our hearts, both from pain and in joy.
I love this month
of celebrating thanks—for family, friends,
and for you, my readers. Thus, I leave you all with Paul’s famous greeting: “We
always thank God for all of you,” 1Thess 1:2; and Philippians 1:3, “I thank my
God every time I remember you.”
