I Am Grateful - Day 1

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I have seen all these "grateful challenges" going on for the past month.  But let's be honest, we don't' think about being grateful until the holidays arrive.

NEWSFLASH!  The holidays are here!!  Merry Christmas! (I know, it feels weird.  But keep saying it, you will get used to it.)

What am I grateful for today?  Well, my grateful journal is usually full of entries like, "I am grateful for a loving wife."  "I am grateful for a beautiful daughter."  So let me pick something out of the ordinary.

I am grateful for my church.

I get the privilege to pastor a wonderful group of people.  Are they perfect?  No.  I thank God that they know that and practice love, acceptance and forgiveness with each other.  That means that #1 they love one another.  Love is the rule of all relationships.  No matter what is happening at the end of it all, they want to love one another.  #2 they accept each other.  No that doesn't mean that they give each other license to do whatever they want.  But it does mean that we don't reject each other even when we make mistakes.  Some people might call this grace.  #3 they forgive each other.  Biblical forgiveness means not only to forgive (releasing someone from a punishment that they may deserve or think they deserve) but it implies to forget.  That's right, forget.  After you forgive them, they never have to look you in the eye and see the anger or bitterness you hold against them ever again.

Is any of this easy? No.  But I am so grateful to be surrounded by a group of people you try to practice this.  The process may be good, bad or even ugly.  But it's better than the alternative.  For that, I am grateful.

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