A Thanksgiving Reflection

I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover, you are listening to “Faith Talk”. Today I’d like to offer a brief Thanksgiving reflection. 

Just the other day, as we were approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, we experienced our first snowfall. As I looked out of my window into the woods, several thoughts and emotions surfaced.

The trees branches were bare, their leaves having fallen. Branches once adorned with the beauty of multi-colored foliage,  now stood naked and exposed. I could clearly see what was beneath a once  vibrant outer layer: the various shades of red, green, gold, and brown were gone. The branches no longer appeared uniform; some were straight, others crooked, some teetered on the brink of collapse and some spread outward and upward with vigor. Yet, the gentle snow fell softly upon them all. 

In this poetic and metaphorical moment, “the falling snow” reminded me of the grace, mercy, and love of God that showers us all, regardless of our condition.I recalled the scripture that tells us that the rain falls on both the just and the unjust.

Observing the trees stripped of their outer beauty, It made me think of  the frailty of the human condition. 

Our lived experiences encompass suffering, joy, peace, and inner conflict, that are often veiled by a seemingly beautiful exterior. Nice  clothes and forced smiles mask the inner turmoil we may sometimes face. 

However, the good news is that God's mercy, grace, and the  Holy Spirit continue to shower us all, just as the snow blankets all the trees, irrespective of their underlying condition.

Today, I express my gratitude for the Spirit of God, which recognizes my frailty and invites me into a sacred space where I can luxuriate myself in the Holy Spirit's embrace. I cherish the gifts of love, peace, joy, strength, and wisdom that empowers me to endure.

I encourage you to take a moment for reflection and consider all that you are thankful for. You may find that meditating on expressions of gratitude uplift you and enable you to connect with the eternal truth that God loves you . Be reminded today that the scripture tells us: 

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover, thank you for joining our global listening audience. These episodes are available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and other podcast platforms. Please share with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving.