This Thanksgiving I have been reflecting on memories of family gatherings.  As a child growing up, I have fond memories of lots of food and desserts and cousins to play with at my Great Grandparents home.  But, I also remember that as the years passed and I got older, I became more aware that between many of the adults that gathered was constant friction, tension, grumblings and arguments. Sadly, many of my great aunts and uncles have passed away and the bitter rivalries continued with them to their final days. They did not know how to be grateful or show love to each other. 

In contrast, I have been blessed to experience Thanksgivings over many years at the home of my husband's grandmother.  She always extended love and acceptance to me as if I were her own.  Gatherings were always pleasant because those who gathered were truly grateful to be there and to be with each other. That family embraced Christ and loved so genuinely. How grateful I am to have been blessed with such a family. 

In 1 John 4, we are reminded that the source of true, genuine love is God.  If we know God, then we will extend the love of God to others. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” ( v 7-8)

God loved us first.  Not only did he send his Son to save us but He  welcomed us into his family with full acceptance.  As part of God's family, we should naturally extend the love of Christ to each other. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ( v10-11)

When others observe us they should see God and the love of God. They may never read a Bible or attend church. They may have only experienced self centered, harsh and unloving family dynamics. We may be the only chance they have to see the difference God's love can make as we yield to His Spirit. . “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” ( v 12-13)

The more we understand how much God loves us, the more empowered we are by that  love.  “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (v 18)

I wish each and every one of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!