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Jim Brangenberg
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Thanksgiving: A Time for Neighboring — iWork4Him

Thanksgiving isn't just a time for eating turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is a holiday where we celebrate with thanks all that God has given us during the year. The pilgrims and the Native Americans celebrated together because they were grateful for the bounty and the new friends that God had given them. How do you celebrate this holiday? Can we offer up a fresh suggestion for your Thanksgiving this year? 

Martha and I had great examples when it came to celebrating Thanksgiving a little out of the box. Martha's parents, Ted and Elaine, ran a photography studio. They had many different employees working for them in the studio. At Ted & Elaine’s house, we often had guests for Thanksgiving that weren't family. Sometimes it was friends from out of town, but often it was people that worked in the studio who didn't have family in town. 

Now to be honest with you, Thanksgiving weekend is one of my favorites of the year. I love the solitude and the quiet. I love just hanging out, eating a lot, and playing some games. I love that time with family. But we live in a time today where so many that live around us aren't near their family to celebrate holidays. Not only are they not near their family, but because of the economy, they lack the financial means to go home and see their family and celebrate Thanksgiving. Do you know who these people may be from your office or workplace? Do you know any neighbors that might be alone for Thanksgiving? 

We bring up this idea of the power of neighboring at Thanksgiving so that it would give you an opportunity to see if anybody that you work with, or anybody that you live near might be spending this day alone. Nobody should ever spend a holiday alone. Are you willing to live a little outside the box and have somebody over for Thanksgiving who isn't family? 

I know the next generations have this thing called “Friendsgiving.” I think it's a great idea. I think it's really just being aware of our neighbors.  Jesus said love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. So, I guess that if your neighbor is somebody that's not God then that means your neighbor is anybody else. Practice loving on your neighbor today and invite them over for Thanksgiving, so they won't be alone. Practice the power of neighboring at Thanksgiving and see how it not only blesses your neighbor but also blesses you. 

Recently I was invited to preach at our church in Marionville, Missouri, and spoke on the Power of Neighboring. We invite you to watch this sermon to learn more about how you may apply it to Thanksgiving.  It’s never too late to be a neighbor!

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