By Don Muilenburg, Spiritual Reflections

Over the years my children have had the opportunity to go on a number of mission trips. They have helped build one-room homes with one window, one door and a concrete floor for families who have slept on the ground with a thatch roof over head. They have delivered medical supplies and assistance to those who have no way to obtain them and personal hygiene products where they are not available from any other source. While doing so, they have also shared the message of the Gospel and the love of the Lord.

As a pastor, I have not had to travel to other countries to find people in profound need. In our own community we have people who have very real needs.

These experiences have been life-changing for my children, and also for me. Watching my kids mature with the realization that while they don’t have everything they want, they have been blessed beyond 90 percent of the world’s ability to comprehend!

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. With all we have been given, have we thought about what we are most thankful for? Do we realize how truly blessed we really are? While we may have many needs and needy people around us, recognizing how much we have to be thankful for will amaze us!

While I write this article, Americans celebrate Veterans Day. Last week we watched as voters streamed through our doors to exercise their freedom and right to vote! This afternoon and evening we are hosting a blood drive with the Memorial Blood Bank. Walking into the lobby to welcome the volunteers and employees of the Blood Bank, I see a table set up for Operation Christmas Child and on it are boxes filled with gifts for children in need. There is another table set up for a food drive supporting the Mobile Food Shelf in our community.

Certainly we must be thankful for the willingness of people to give to those who are in need. That need may be food, clothing, gifts for children in Third World countries, life-giving blood, protection, freedom. The list of needs seems unending.

Is celebrating Thanksgiving indulging ourselves with a great meal and enjoying the company of family and friends? Being thankful to God for all he has given us should entail more than a one-day celebration. Scripture tells us in James 2:15 and 16:  “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” Thankfully in our community, we also have people whose compassion touches the needy in significant ways.

As we take time out of our busy schedules to thank God for all he has done and has given us, let’s be intentional about blessing those in need. Remember Jesus said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. God’s desire is for us to be thankful always. Being blessed by helping others is just one more thing to be thankful for!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

(Pastor Don Muilenburg is pastor of Congregational Life at Bridgewood Church in Savage and can be contacted at don@bridgewood.org. He is one of several area pastors who write columns for "Spiritual Reflections.")