Hebrews 12:12-15 12 - Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…
Happy Thanksgiving! A few times while living in Dallas, either I wasn’t able to make it home, or my parents were out of the country during Thanksgiving, so a friend introduced me to a new tradition: Steaksgiving. Steaksgiving is similar to Thanksgiving except you skip the turkey and most of the sides, get the best steak you can afford as a poor student, and grill it to perfection. It was a great tradition.
The year of the house was different, the thought of putting even a small grill in that jungle of an overgrown backyard sent headlines like, “Thanksgiving Ruined for An Entire Neighborhood as Blaze Enters Second Day,” to my mind. So, we improvised. We gathered our steaks, plates, and equipment and headed over to our friend’s apartment complex to use the community grills there. Our friend was out of town, but I knew the gate code. Maybe meals taste better when they come with a small hint of trespassing.
If I’m honest I don’t remember how good the steak was or what we had on the side. I just remember the fun I had spending time with friends, hanging out, and eating in a random community space.
Tomorrow and for the rest of the year, you will probably be spending some time around a table sharing food, and stories, and laughs with friends and family. Wherever you find yourself, do your best to remember who you are. As the people of hope we should strive for peace with everyone. Even the people who think family meals are the best time to talk about politics or take passive-aggressive digs at your life situation.
See to it that no one fails to see the grace of God from you.
Happy Thanksgiving!