It's sad to say I forgot...

 As I turned into the driveway of FBC Springfield I looked for the four signs that were left in the yard for Pastor Appreciation. White poster board with hand lettering saying thank you to Bro. Jeff, Bro Darren, Bro. David and me Bro. George. I was looking for them because when I first saw them they surprised me and brought a smile to my face. It is the simple things that make us smile. This morning they were gone. Probably they have been gone for a while but I missed them today.

What I have forgotten to say is Thank You to First Baptist Church of Springfield for you continued love and support for me, my family and the church I pastor. You are a kind and loving people and have blessed me by being you. I also forgot to say I was not at the appreciation evening because Crossroads was hosting a pumpkin festival and meal the same evening. So I was there judging chili entries and sliding down inflatable slides. It hard I know it but someone has to do it! No, I don’t feel like a red-headed-step-child. That was my choice.

Choice is the gift of love God has given us. “Free Will” as we call it is a powerful and dangerous gift God gave us at creation’s beginning. John Eldridge says that choice makes God wild and dangerous. It was quite a risk on his part giving us a choice. We might not choose well.

Every parent knows this risk as their children grow towards maturity and take on more responsibilities and opportunities. Thos responsibilities and opportunities involve risk and consequences, some of which are not pleasant and life changing. But the point of raising children is to set them off on their own. It is a risky business for us and God.

We have a choice to be grateful sad to say and most days we forget our blessings. My oldest Elizabeth was telling me of having lunch with a student born in Syria. The conversation with others hung on how long it took to vote and what a yada, yada, yada it was. This foreign born student spoke up and said you have no idea what an opportunity it is to vote. The conversation stopped dead in its tracks with these words. We are just not grateful most days sad to say.

It is less than two weeks until Thanksgiving Day, so it is not too late to begin to count your blessings and say them one by one. Don’t forget to say them out loud and to those who bless your life in any way. Don’t forget it is that important. God has blessed us beyond any measure we could use and it is sad to say we forget to say Thank You to Him or anyone else.

Don’t forget anymore! Say Thank You in this season of thanksgiving.

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev