Yesterday at church we had a message about friends and then celebrated a Thanksgiving dinner together. So here I am inspired and excited to write about what we can learn from God’s word about friends and family.

In my own history of Thanksgiving celebrations, I’ve been fortunate to have family to celebrate with, so, to me it has always been a family holiday. But more and more I hear of people getting together with friends for Friendsgiving. Sometimes people don’t have family close by or at all and sharing a meal with friends is a great way to feel loved and included.

The meal at church was a similar, yet, different type of Friendsgiving, one of found family. There are people we know well and others we can’t remember their name. But, the meal we share together opens opportunities for conversations that could lead to friendships.

They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.

Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭42‬, ‭46‬-‭47‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In the early church, sharing a meal was common practice, an important factor in building unity and community.

Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.‬‬

Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭TPT

The Bible is full of reminders—reminders we apparently need repeatedly—that we should not only try to get along with each other, but that we should love each other.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.‬‬

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT

But what if you are an introvert? Does spending time in a group of people, even if they are friends or family, make your skin crawl? If you can’t be the engine, be the caboose. Don’t hide in a quiet room, instead, sit next to the extrovert. You know the one. You can just smile, nod your head and stuff your mouth full of stuffing. Every extrovert needs an introvert, so why not you.

I believe God made us to be in community with each other and Thanksgiving is a great time not only to be thankful for all God has done for us, but for all the people he has placed around us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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