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This is a week when we are expected to focus on giving thanks, to remember our blessings, and to remember the Source from Whom all blessings flow. So why am I not able to concentrate on this joy, this “hallelujah” experience, every moment? Why am I so often preoccupied with worry over safety, achievement, or even being loved? Why do I find Christian friends often depressed, or frustrated, or sarcastic and even belittling?

It is simple enough to say we are all human and have human shortcomings and faults. But is that justification for allowing such a mindset to even occupy one second of a life that is given in devotion to God? We have been given much, particularly in America, where opportunity is abundant compared to other nations. We have the capacity to learn, to grow, and to share our faith. God’s grace to us is truly “too wonderful for words!”

But evil would keep us from celebrating such a gift. If our minds are obsessed with worry, doubt, and fear, then thanksgiving is replaced by hatred, revenge, exclusion, and intimidation. These are seeds of darkness, and they have been planted in every mind. But these seeds cannot thrive in the light of the love and grace which rain upon us from heaven. We acknowledge we have received in abundance the gifts of the Spirit. Are we also willing to take the responsibility of using these gifts in obedience to God’s will?

Famous is my spiritual compass. He can almost instantly cast out any self-doubt, fear, loneliness, or depression. What then is left but thankfulness?  I believe God has provided at least one spiritual compass for each of us. I pray you find yours this Thanksgiving and allow it by the power of God’s Holy Spirit to transform you into a child of grace and light!

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Pierce my heart, Father, with the undeniable awareness of Your purpose for me that I might be thankful in all things and at all times.

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So here is the thing. I cherish my walks with Famous. When I am able to be home during the day we must take a minimum of four walks, often as far as a half a mile from our house. But it is not with the greatest of pleasure that I must wear two and three layers of clothing now that autumn is transitioning to winter. More layers means more pockets to hold bags, lights, keys, phone, and anything else I might feel to be useful during the outing. But tonight one of those pockets failed me as we finished our walk in the cold and had returned to the front porch only to discover the key to the house was missing. The door was locked, so I had not forgotten the key. I quickly checked all of the many pockets in my clothing, but I came up empty. What would we do in the cold night?

Rather than panic, I ran through what must have happened to my key. During this late night walk we had stayed in our neighborhood, but we had covered most of its main street and side paths. Unswept leaves would make it very difficult to spot a key on a brown strap in the middle of the road, but I reasoned I would have heard it hit the asphalt. The only time we were not in the road was when Famous had visited a side field. Before leaving the house I had stuffed a plastic bag in my coat pocket for “duty” retrieval. I figured the key must have fallen out when I grabbed the bag out in the field.

So we turned around in hopes of locating the spot where the key would have dropped. Not only would I have to approximate where Famous had stood, how far he had ventured from the curb, but also where I would have been when I pulled out the shopping bag. And we would have to find the key in the dark. And we would have to find it in the cold.

I took out my phone and turned on its flashlight application to help illuminate the metal key in the grass. I chose the direction in which I thought I should search with Famous by my side, knowing it was only a guess of where we might have stood just a few minutes earlier. With no other landmarks in the field, I knew we could be looking for a long time under poor conditions. But before I had a chance to even start the search, I froze. My boot had landed on a hard object several feet from where I was about to start looking. I turned the light to the ground and saw the key! I had searched less than ten seconds, and a few minutes later we were home safe and warm.

The dark path of sin is often one where we feel lost, forgotten, helpless, and ignorant of the light of God’s direction. His hope comes to us when we rely on his truth and protection rather than our own devices. He will guide our steps in our time of need.

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Show me the path that I must walk to keep my steps from straying from Your love.