I think that most of have looked forward to Thanksgiving ever since we were kids. Yeah, it’s partly because of the good food, partly because of being around people we love, and partly just a time of relaxation. But I think that a greatest part of it is because at our deepest core, we NEED to says thanks.
It’s kinda how we were made. It’s been proven by countless neurological studies that people who are the most thankful, are also the happiest people. And the opposite holds true as well: People who are complainers are the most unhappy of people. And while that makes common sense to us, what’s the ultimate CAUSE of our thankfulness? Not all of the “Thankful People” have easy or great lives. The presence of a grateful heart is not as dependent upon a life of ease and comfor as one would think. (See the accompanying devotion given to you today)
So why do we find outlets for our thankfulness? It’s because without the act of actually expressing our thanks, it remains incomplete. We have to “let it out”. Whether it’s in a thank you card, a heartfelt word, or a warm embrace, we have to express it in some way. Unexpressed thankfulness is incomplete. CS Lewis said it in one profound statement: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”
It also properly exalts the person who we are thanking. Whether it’s our parents who raised us, or our teachers who taught us, or service men and women who laid their lives on the line for us, we are humbled and they are honored above us…..as is right. And we are made more happy when we express it.
This is true of human beings being thanked, as well as God.
Just like I humble myself and exalt the server in the restaurant when I say, “Thank you,” so I humble myself and exalt God when I feel gratitude to him. The difference, of course, is that I really am infinitely in debt to God for his grace, and everything he does for me is free and undeserved.
So today, I want to tell all my friends who we have come to know and love….and we’ve gotten a chance to visit with this 2019 Thanksgiving at our office or at your home, we are THANKFUL for you. Without you, we wouldn’t have this little real estate business, we wouldn’t have the fun friendships we’ve developed, and we wouldn’t be as joyful as we are this year. You have made our lives much richer and more robust by being a part of our lives. This business isn’t easy, in fact it’s quite hard. But people like you have allowed to see why our Lord called us into this industry. It isn’t about having another transaction or “doing another deal”. If the Lord decides for us to have one, we’ll have one. If not, then not. But we want to continue to be open to His leading….and focus on people.
So that’s why our hearts are bursting with joy this Thanksgiving. God has given us the privilege of getting to know people whose hearts are given over to God, and who we are honored to know. We are humbled by these opportunities and you, our friends.
We want to tell you, “Thank you”.
And most of all, we want to encourage you to continue your pursuit of Him, and expressing your praise for Him. That’s what gives us the highest of all happiness and greatest of all joys in our lives.
Warmly,
Ron and Sue and the entire “When Home Isn’t 1st” Team
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