Let the wheat and the weeds grow together until the harvest. – Matthew 13:30

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. – Psalm 28:7

Reaping and threshing and storing for the winter to come. Back-breaking work and worry giving way to an abundant harvest that shall sustain throughout the months ahead. Most of us have not experienced what the celebration of the harvest means for those who live off the land. The life and death-ness of it all. For us, Thanksgiving has been tamed, nestling us in safe and comfortable tradition. But this year of seemingly never-ending chaos might we not come to this Thanksgiving harvest with different eyes? 

How many times have I witnessed our Guatemalan volunteers give abundantly from their scarcity with joy? How many times have I seen them simply refuse to be hobbled by fear but rather have stepped beyond it to meet Jesus by serving others? How many times have I wondered at their ability to offer up the work of their hands in thanks to God for the wheat 
and the weeds as they live in the place of life and death in a way that I cannot, will never, be able to fully understand? This place where they so deeply and authentically give God thanks for their lives. All of their lives. The scarcity of loss. The abundant blessings. Their ability to see God’s calming presence in them both.

So, in these tumultuous times I am looking to my Guatemalan brothers and sisters to lead me into this place of deeper Thanksgiving. For through them, I am reminded that the work of my hands, my very life, has never been, and never shall be mine, but rather a gift from God. I am looking to them, as they continue to encourage me to respond to the fierce wrench of scarcity that induces fear with the beckoning calm of abundance that brings peace. Trusting in the One who shall lead us into fullness of life. Come what may.
Like they do. 

Today we give thanks for them. And today we give thanks for an unexpected and surprising gift from an anonymous donor. A donor who came to us with a Thanksgiving offering of a $25,000 matching gift. Pure and abundant grace. 

This gift is to be matched on Giving Tuesday, December 1. In commemoration of this Thanksgiving week, all gifts given through this link shall contribute to the match. So, please join me in making a Thanksgiving offering no matter how big, no matter how small with abundant joy as our hearts leap in gratitude for God’s presence in our lives. Especially this Thanksgiving.

Rev. Linda L. McCarty
President & CEO

Read more about how God’s abundant grace is continuing to flow through this mission.