“The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, in case you missed all the pictures on social media.
This year I missed home a lot more than I did last year. I’m not sure why. Maybe because last year was still new and fun and full of adventure while traveling through Asia. Maybe because last year it seemed a lot like an adventure because I had a parasite in my foot and ate KFC.
This year I am with a team who I have been with for about two weeks. This team is one who knows how to cook and all I have done for the last two weeks is wash the dishes in hopes of somehow repaying them.
So, since they know how to cook, Thanksgiving was AWESOME. I posted some pictures and had a few people from my squad text me asking if I had gone home for the holidays because it sure didn’t look like a missionary dinner. There was turkey. And stuffing. And homemade biscuits. Mashed potatoes and even SWEET TEA.
There has even been wifi to get in touch with my family.
And, ah. That’s where the ache for home comes. My niece got real excited to see me. She even tried to give me a hug which was both awesome and sad all in the same breath. My parents. My brother. My sis-in-law. My aunt and uncle and grandmother and cousins. Tucker Tillman. My friends. All the ones that helped me get to where I am sitting, in this moment. Yes, even my dog.
The ache. It’s real.
But here’s the thing.
A mentor from the office was messaging me one day last week about squad leading and her message went a little like this…
“I often picture you standing in the background soaking up the presence of your people, just looking at them as they live their lives lit up and collecting the treasure it is to watch them do it.”
And there it is. Because I do.
Stand back. Watch. This team, this squad, as they are the hands and feet of Jesus to this world. I stand back and I watch as they are learning to live in Christian community where freedom to be who they really are becomes more and more real to them. I can see them over my computer screen as they are sitting with the Lord, worshipping and doing their quiet time. I see them love on kids with special needs, making them smile and laugh at the risk of looking like a fool. I see them buying into vulnerability at the risk of being hurt knowing that the risk will be worth it in the end. I see them serving and loving one another well. I see them buying into this whole “life on mission” concept.
And, that, my friends is the treasure.
The treasure that makes missing my family and friends worth it.
I am thankful. Grateful. In awe.
That I have the opportunity to walk alongside this group of humans while also getting to show some love to kiddos. I have the opportunity to pour into their lives and I don’t deserve it and I wonder every day why the Lord saw fit to bring me here.
I don’t want to fall asleep in life, so thankfulness was the posture of my spirit yesterday, not because the Holiday told me to do that but because it’s what ushers me into the presence of God.
We are told to be thankful for all things. So, count the ways that He has been good to you. The ways that He has shown up.
Then your flesh and you spirit will come into agreement to see the treasure it is to live this life for Him. Whatever that looks like.
Update on life: I have been in Latacunga, Ecuador for a few weeks now. I have been with a team at a children’s home and I have loved every second of it. This weekend I will be leaving to head to a team in Quito, Ecuador who is teaching English. From what I hear, God is doing some incredible things there and 50 students and teachers gave their life to the Lord this past week! PRAISE HIM!
Remember to subscribe to this blog to get all the updates by email and you can also still donate at the top. I am so, so thankful for all that the Lord has done through each and everyone of you to get me to where I am. I don’t have enough thank yous in the world to show my gratitude for you.
