Everyone knows the dual role of Thanksgiving—eating more than what’s reasonable and expressing appreciation for something or someone. So let’s focus on the word “thanks.” You can handle the meal part on your own.
I recently visited a neighbor in the hospital. He had a disease that attacked muscle tissue, and it had progressed to the point that he could not breathe on his own. In fact, his entire body began to shut down. After a few weeks in intensive care, he made the decision to turn the machines off on a Thursday. I visited him on Wednesday, and we both knew it was to say goodbye.
Twenty minutes into our time together, I asked him if he was going to heaven. He nodded yes. We chatted for a while longer about what going to heaven meant, what it would be like, and the new body he would receive upon arrival. This conversation went surprisingly well, considering that due to the medical equipment he could only write words on a pad of paper or mouth them out. To make double sure about the heaven answer, we prayed a long time together—and clearly covered the issue of salvation. It was a holy moment for sure. And then something unexpected happened that I will always remember.
As I left his room, I turned to wave. At that moment, his eyes sparkled and he mouthed out the word “Thanks!” My heavy heart filled with a unique joy because I never expected to be thanked. I was, after all, just doing what I believed God wanted me to do. Knowing that my neighbor went to heaven the very next day would have been enough for me. But I heard “Thanks!” And that’s what I want to share.
For all the extra hours you work that nobody really knows about. For all the times your heart has grown heavy from the load you’re asked to carry. For addressing critics and resolving conflict that you really would have preferred to ignore. For brainstorming until your mind is numb to come up with a new holiday service. For vision casting until your eyes blur to make sure you have new volunteers. For all the times you felt it personally when a volunteer left. For rehearsing one more time to make sure that the program goes well. For sticking in ministry because you believe that’s what God wants you to do. For all the prayers that you said to make double sure that kids would understand the salvation plan. For all the kids who did understand and will be in heaven one day. And for all the times you should have heard this word but didn’t …
Thanks!
(Enjoy your meal.)
David Staal, senior editor of Today’s Children’s Ministry, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. Prior to this assignment, David led Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. David is the author of Words Kids Need to Hear (2008) and lives in Grand Haven, MI, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin.
Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.
