By Michael C. Mack
As Thanksgiving approaches and on the day itself, people will naturally be thinking about thankfulness. Pray for people you will see throughout the week. As you talk with friends, coworkers, or neighbors, or as you get together with family, watch for natural opportunities to ask these simple questions:
“¢ What are you most thankful for?
“¢ Whom are you most thankful for?
“¢ When do you tend to be the most thankful for what you have?
“¢ Other than at Thanksgiving, do you think you are generally a thankful person? Why or why not?
Next, be quiet and listen attentively. Be prepared to ask follow-up questions, but be careful not to interrupt, disagree, judge, or jump in too quickly with your own thoughts or a canned presentation. Instead, wait for the normal social recip-
rocal question, “How about you?” Then, and only then, respond to the question with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Author: Michael C. Mack
Michael C. Mack is editor of Christian Standard. He has served in churches in Ohio, Indiana, Idaho, and Kentucky. He has written more than 25 books and discussion guides as well as hundreds of magazine, newspaper, and web-based articles.
