A father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families.
(Psalm 68:5-6 NIV)
Tomorrow families and friends all over the US are gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have a friend whose family traveled 1500 miles to spend time with her husband’s family – who are coming in from another state and South America! Other families will gather from much shorter distances. Our church is having a meal together in the morning for those that don’t have families or other places to go. Needless to say, unless you spend the day alone, you will most likely be interacting with other people.
That can be where the challenge can begin. Have you ever noticed that human relationships can be…complicated? We’re all emotionally diverse, have different needs and expectations, and may struggle with barriers to communication or differences. There may be unspoken expectations, dynamics, fears, and even trauma. Then, when we gather this diversity into one place at one time, often with people we see only occasionally, all of these can contribute to relationships being…challenging.
So, where is God in all THAT?
Right where he always is. Within us. Guiding us. Inviting us deeper into his presence so we can bring his Light and his Peace into the world we live in. It’s not an accident he has placed us in the families we are in. He calls us to love the people around us – family, friends, neighbors, etc. – even the hard ones.
As we enter into the holiday season and the forthcoming various family gatherings, maybe there are relationships you have that you wish were different in tone, that include unresolved conflict or unhealed hurts. Maybe today is the day those places of pain can be moved towards healing. Sometimes that healing is only within us – there’s nothing we can do to mend the relationship. Other times, we do have the chance to mend fences and build bridges in painful places. It takes courage to reach out, and a willingness to communicate and forgive. Easy? Not usually. Worth it? Yes, if for no other reason that that God calls us to do this work.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 NIV)
Today, as far as it depends on us, let us live at peace. May each of us remember this as a peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due, You are a Father to the fatherless, the defender of widows and orphans, and the One who sets the lonely in families. We thank You for the intentional way You have placed each of us in families—whether by birth, by relationships with relatives, or by the friendships we hold dear. Thank You for the opportunities we have during this holiday season to spend time with our families and loved ones. Help us to reflect the same love and grace toward one another that Jesus shows to us. Grant us the courage and grace to do the hard work of living in peace with everyone—even when it’s difficult to communicate, forgive, reconcile, or build bridges. We ask for healing in areas of relational pain, that we may experience true peace in our relationships. We pray all this in Jesus’s name. Amen.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)