“Cherished” Thanksgiving

A very long time ago, when I was a little girl, I had a special childhood friend named Ronda. She was a very sweet and beautiful girl on the inside and outside and even though she was a bit more popular than me she always made me feel like I was just as special by affording me her friendship. One day, Ronda gave me a little gift for Halloween. It was a Hallmark fall pin and I cherished it so much. First of all, Hallmark gifts were a big deal where I was from. It was quite a fancy store to some of us who normally thought shopping at K-mart was a big deal.

In any case, that pin was so precious to me, I kept it in a little jewelry box and every now and then I would go, open the box, and just stare at it. Sadly, Ronda died at a very young age of 19, and about once a month I still have her visit me in my dreams and we play games or giggle in them. Additionally, over the years with moving and going through adult life changes, I lost track of that little pin.

Thank God for Ebay! It came to me one day to see if I could find that little pin again since I had such an attachment to it and to the loving memory of my dear friend Ronda. I was able to find it. purchase it, and I cannot tell you how overjoyed I was to receive it in the mail. I stared at it like a lovesick puppy with tears streaming down my face with joy and relief to have it in my hands again.

Obsess much? I know, I know what you are thinking . . .a bit too materialistic for a Christian right? But I knew that God would take this example of a blessing to somehow share some example of his love. At first, I couldn’t think of the connection, then eventually, the Holy Spirit shared with me the significance.

I cherished that little Hallmark pin but it wasn’t the pin now was it? The pin was just the symbol of my love for my childhood friend. I cherished the pin but I really cherished her and the memories of her. And hang on . . . it comes full circle. The reason I cherished that pin was because I FELT CHERISHED. I was made to feel special by her, by her gift, by her friendship.

I felt cherished and loved.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Imagine the joy a person can feel when they accept that we are all loved by Jesus. God cherishes each and every one of his children. And he cherishes us all unconditionally. We don’t need a symbol to know it is there. You can feel it deep in your heart when you come to know him and accept him. And far greater than any gift known to man, he gave his only son to save you. . . to save me. . .to save that guy down the road who drives like a maniac, . . or that woman who bakes the dried out cookies for everyone at Christmas time. All of us!

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

We live in very trying times. People are divided, filled with desperation, fear, bitterness, doubts, and feeling a little “un”special.

Hold fast my friends. God still loves you and cherishes you for all that you are. He still knows your sadness, your pain, and at the same time he knows your joy, and what brings you happiness EVEN when it is just a little seasonal Hallmark pin you can buy on Ebay.

During this season of Thanksgiving, let us not lose sight of the blessings we have in God’s unconditional love. We will always have that to be thankful for and we can receive comfort in all earthly times because we are TRULY loved and we are CHERISHED!

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 John 4:16 ESV

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Romans 8:35-39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving! And May God Bless You All!