In whose eyes and by whose standards are we judged a misfit? It seems to me that we are all misfits in someone else’s eyes.
There once was a family of brothers, whose daddy died young. Their mother, although a career woman, had leaned on her husband tremendously, but she was able to go on by the grace of God, and one young son who, unbeknownst to him, she had given her reigns of leadership to; to lead her, not the family!
She didn’t realize it, but her conversation and off the cuff remarks were laced with the same habitual language she had used when her husband was alive, for she would say things like “I’ll talk to Dad and see what he says” and now she’s begun to say “well, I’ll talk to _____ and see what he says.” Everyone noticed, but not one would tell her how obvious it was.
A couple of the young sons had become quite successful, and even had their own homes built to their special requests. They all married and had children, except one. This one was not the baby of the family, but still very much an introvert, and no one had paid that much attention to him when he was young and going to concerts, away from home with his friends. He always came home in the evenings, but they probably didn’t know what he had been up to. The others being in sports, had captivated the attention of both loving parents, and his unfortunate strongholds were being developed while they were at the other’s sporting events.
One day it became apparent that he had a problem, and everyone was quite shocked, but not surprised, because they had all indulged at one time in their lives, but had grown up and ‘seen the light’ so to speak, when they married and had their own children.
Now that they were involved with their own families they wanted to protect them from the escapades their uncle may unfold before their eyes at family gatherings so he was ostracized; because some said they didn’t want him in their home for fear of a scene, due to chemical imbalance or mind altering substances.
Where do these misfit people go at Thanksgiving when their families don’t want them?
A time traditionally given to fellowship with family members who live miles apart; when most families will set aside their differences and tolerate otherwise ‘disliked’ members of their family. A time when each one of us needs to feel loved; where do they go?
Thank God that HE exists, and that He sent Jesus to die for our sins, in order to unite us to Himself; ALL OF US, who otherwise would forever be an unwanted misfit, too!
Thank God that He sent Jesus and His twelve disciples out into the highways and byways to call us unto Himself; all of us who otherwise would be considered unworthy to be a part of His Kingdom, but through our faith and belief in His Dear SON, JESUS, are welcomed into His Home, and unto His table laden with every type of delicacy we could ever imagine.
Thank God we can turn to Him when our hearts are broken, because we’re not receiving the love we are commanded to have and show for each other. Thank God there are others, too, who feel the pangs of loneliness and who the Holy Spirit has awakened and moved into demonstrating the love Jesus taught us in God’s Word, that tells us to fix plates of food and take to those who have none, and that there are people like Mr. Jimenez, whose efforts have been magnified by others who also jumped into action to help feed those who live alone, are homeless, or just don’t have enough to buy a lavish turkey with all the trimmings!
“10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
We should all be moved into that type of action, not just at Thanksgiving, but all year. It’s this special time of the year that suicides increase, isn’t it? It’s this time of year that we think of our loved ones who have been called home to be with our Lord, and those memories of times gone by, right? And when those thoughts haunt us, some of them bringing us to tears, and we feel like no one knows our pain or understands, just who can we turn to?
Thank God that HE UNDERSTANDS! He knows and feels our very woes, and He will dwell within us to share our load, if we just invite Him into our hearts. But, He is not physical, is he? I mean, that’s why Aaron let those Israelites talk him into making that golden calf, isn’t it? So they’d have something tangible to see and worship, right?
Well, I’m here to tell you that God is hoping we will invite Him into our hearts, and go to church and hear His Word preached. He said we can’t live by bread alone, but by every Word of God….. hmmm, think on that a while, instead of turkey and cranberry sauce. And His Word is healing to our pains, comforting to us, too, and our faith is renewed and increased by hearing His Word preached.
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
But, you may say, you can’t feel the arms of God around you, or hear Him speak to you, right? WRONG! We feel Him in our hearts, which I daresay, sometimes we can be in a room full of people and still be lonely, because none of them love us. GOD LOVES US and we can be all alone in a room with Him in our hearts feeling completely safe and satisfied to be His child, reading His Word which is ALIVE with His presence!
Jesus said His sheep know His voice and the voice of a stranger we will not follow.
“14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:14-18
If you are a misfit like me and don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving food and fellowship, please come to our community Thanksgiving dinner on November 26th, 6:30 p.m. (that’s a Tuesday), at the Blanco Methodist Church. There is no fee for the dinner, although donations are very much appreciated, and this dinner is sponsored by the Blanco Ministerial Alliance, which helps many people in the community throughout the year.
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