“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

As we walked into the restaurant for our Thanksgiving meal this year, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes and a lump form in my throat. This was no way to spend Thanksgiving, I thought. Memories of past holidays flooded my mind. I wondered what my family in Arizona was doing at that very moment. Surely, they were enjoying lots of wonderful food and great conversation. Then I looked at my precious girls, and for their sake, quickly pulled it together. They were so happy to be celebrating Thanksgiving, whether it was dining at home with family and friends, or out of town with our own family of four.

We decided a few weeks ago that it would be fun to spend the Thanksgiving break in Colorado Springs. I spent some time online searching out activities we could do as a family, and, thanks to my husband’s business travel, we were able to stay at a nice hotel completely free of charge. Thank goodness for hotel points.

The trip was enjoyable and relaxing, just how we wanted it. But I couldn’t help but miss our extended families for those few hours on Thanksgiving Day.

The restaurant was located in a rundown, older part of the city, and was quite crowded this day. The crowd was a little edgier than I’m used to in my little suburban town. I have to admit that I had some pre-conceived ideas of who would be dining out on Thanksgiving Day. And I think I was right. There were some people dining alone, many elderly people joining their families for a meal, and sadly, I saw one gentlemen clearly conducting business rather than taking a day off work.

I noticed my husband seemed a little distracted and kept eyeing the line of people waiting at the door. Little did I know that the thought brewing in his mind would change my whole outlook on this day and snap me out of my melancholy mood. He suggested we donate the cash to cover a meal for one of the families in line at the door.

We all agreed that it was a great idea, and so we called the manager over to tell him what we wanted to do. We left the decision up to the manager as to which family to sponsor, and we asked to remain anonymous. A few minutes later he came back with a receipt to sign and said it had been taken care of. His eyes welled up with tears as he shook my husband’s hand and said words I will never forget. “What you folks did today made me more proud (of people in general) than I have been all year. Thank you so much for your generosity.”

I don’t share that story to get a pat on the back, but just as a reminder of how a simple act of kindness can do more than we will ever know. As a nation we are facing uncertain economic times this holiday season. I know it is difficult to reach into pockets and even find extra money to give to those in need. Those very thoughts ran through my mind when my husband made this suggestion. But I know his idea was one of a supernatural kind. God placed it on his heart and Matthew was obedient to follow God’s prompting.

My prayer for all of us this season is that our focus will not be on how financially thin we are stretched, or what gifts we won’t be giving or receiving this year, but how blessed we are to worship a God who holds us so close to Him and provides for our every need. There are opportunities all around us to show acts of kindness, whether monetary or not. I pray that we will recognize our Father’s gentle nudging and be a source of hope to those who desperately need it.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is one that was released several years ago by Christian artist Sandi Patti. The chorus sums up this idea of giving:

"And the gift goes on. The Father gave the Son. The Son gave the Spirit. The Spirit gives us life. So we can give the Gift of Love."[1]

[1] By Ron Harris and Claire Cloninger (c) 1983 Ron Harris Music/ASCAP

It was this week many years ago that my study buddy and I were preparing for a biochemistry exam. We synchronized our day timers to ensure we could study around the clock, trying to memorize countless mechanisms. Despite our long hours and absolute dedication, the test terrified us. The material was difficult and, try as we may, we just couldn’t master it. However, we had one saving grace. Our professor announced he would grade that test on a curve.

“Surely everyone else is so busy making their Thanksgiving preparations that they won’t study much,” Esther encouraged me. “And they are so tired of the cardboard food served in the cafeteria that they can’t help but dream about the juicy turkey they’ll eat in just a few short days.” And so was born the phrase that made us optimistic: turkey on the brain, a disillusioned theory that our peers would do horribly on the exam as they dreamt of all the Thanksgiving fixings.

Our primary hope of passing the test hung on others having turkey on the brain. Isn’t life and faith very much like that? Every world religion other than Christianity teaches that eternity looms in the balances. Did we work hard enough? Were we good enough? Repeat enough prayers or save enough souls. Hard enough compared to what? Good enough compared to whom?

When it comes to eternity, there is no curve.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Death, my friend. Not an almost-made-it-death or a not-so-bad death or even an I-tried-really-hard death. Death. Forever.

The price is high, the way is narrow. Sinlessness. An absolute impossibility. I’m not sure how many minutes I can go without sinning, let alone attempting to walk this journey we call life without even one single blemish. Death.

But wait. The pure, Holy One took my sins–my spiteful thoughts, the ways in which I place my interests above those around me, my bitterness, lack of compassion and so much more–and placed them upon himself. He shattered the curve and the veil.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-23

I don’t have to wait until the final moments of my earthly life to know how the next will play out. I have been given permission to approach the Most Holy Place with confidence and am having a place in eternity prepared for me. And for that, I am exceedingly thankful.