So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4

Throughout the year we thank the Lord for all of His blessings, but on Thanksgiving Day we stop and show our appreciation for His earthly blessings and bounty.

Sixteen-year-old Hayden Schaumburg of Watseka, Illinois, is a leader, a scholar, an athlete. On October 17th, Schaumburg broke his neck while making a tackle during a football game. Since that day, he has been hospitalized.

His family, having the right priorities, have spent much of these intervening weeks by his side.

Of course, that meant their 2,000-acre farm was pretty much left on its own. From what I've been told, on the farm there are some things that can wait and no damage will be done, but there are other things that need to be taken care of, and those things need to be done when the time is right.

High on that list of work which had to be done now is bringing in the harvest. That was a job which, this year, the Schaumburg family hadn't gotten done.

And this is where things get good.

Early on a November Saturday morning, about 100 of the Schaumburg family's friends and neighbors showed up at the homestead with tractors and trucks and combines to lend a hand with the harvest.

At 6:30 a.m. in the morning the group began with a prayer for Schaumburg and his family and then they got to work. By afternoon those fantastic farmer folks of Watseka had managed to harvest more than 1,000 acres. Shawn Peters, one of those volunteer workers said, "It just kinda happened. This is what a farming community does."

Yes, and it's also what Christians do.

In prayer they give thanks to the Lord for a harvest and in prayer they do what they can to be of help to a neighbor in distress. And even more, they don't think it's a big deal. Indeed, they couldn't imagine doing anything else.

This is why, this Thanksgiving Day, I pray we all may rejoice for the physical blessings the Lord has showered upon us, and may we also give thanks for our brothers and sisters in Christ. You know, the ones who, having been rescued by the Savior's sacrifice, are willing to make sacrifices of their own for others in need.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we give thanks You have shown us how to love. As we have been blessed, may we all be a blessing to each other. This we ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 30-32    1 Peter 4

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