Thankfulness For Your Home Team
As I gather with my family today to celebrate Thanksgiving over a wonderful meal, fellowship, and football watching, I am reflecting on how thankful I am for my “home team,” the people who know me better than myself and point me back to Christ in all situations. In times when I carried the weight of leadership in my various job roles, my home team helped me keep an eternal focus and brought balance and joy to my life. It can be far too easy to take your home team for granted, and it is important to express your gratitude to them for the gift they are in your life.
My home team these days consists of my wife, my special needs daughter, my son, my spiritual mentor, and my Bible Study group. At the top of my list is my wife Dare, who is the best gift God has given me other than His Son. Nobody knows me better than my wife, and she is a continual source of encouragement and support. I’ve heard it said that Michelangelo was once asked how he made the statue of David out of a block of marble. He responded that all he did was remove what wasn’t David. I know that God continually works in and through Dare to knock off my rough edges, removing what is not Christ-like (and I still have a long way to go). She is always there for me. She is my best friend and I don’t know what I would do without her. She constantly demonstrates unconditional love to me, in spite of all my many faults and shortcomings. She never ceases to convey patience, attentively listens and helps me discern God’s will. There is nobody I enjoy spending time with more than Dare. I thank God each day for placing her in my life!
My special needs daughter Linley brings constant joy and inspiration to my life. She FaceTimes me about 40 times each day, calling me as soon as she wakes up in the morning, before she goes to work, as soon as she comes home from work and right before going to bed at night. She is constantly positive and never complains about all the pain from her many, many surgeries. She has taught me empathy and what caring for others is all about. When I see how Linley and her special needs friends spend their lives caring for each other, they remind me that I am the one with the handicaps, not them. God has truly given me a blessing to have Linley in my life.
I also have tremendous joy every minute I get to spend with my son. He is married, living in a different city from Dare and I, and is very involved in his career. Each time we are together, I am filled with joy witnessing the great man he has become. I am honored when he asks my opinion and allows me to speak into what he is thinking through. I always look forward with great anticipation to our next time together.
My spiritual mentor is a dear friend who never fails to support me. He answers my call no matter the time of day. From our interactions, he always makes me feel as if the only thing on his agenda is to be my friend and help guide my life. If I need encouragement, he is there with a kind word or Scripture. If I am struggling with trying to discern God’s will in my life, he is there to ask me a lot of questions that will point me to the right answer. He is a constant positive influence. I walk away from every conversation as a better man. He has truly poured his life into mine, expecting nothing in return. He is a model of Christ’s love, placing others ahead of himself. I encourage everyone to find a spiritual mentor and in turn, become a spiritual mentor to others.
My Bible Study group is another impactful part of my home team. I look to them to hold me accountable, ask me challenging questions on everything from theology to practical Christian living and to pray with me and for me. My Tuesday mornings are brighter because I get to see this group each week, fellowshipping and walking through life’s joys and trails together. As we share our struggles with each other, pray for one another and provide encouragement, we realize that we all have similar struggles. Being able to talk things through with others who truly care about you makes this community very special to me. God has blessed me tremendously by giving me the opportunity to become part of this group.
On this Thanksgiving Day, I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect and list out the members of your home team. Thank God for each of them by name, and before you enter your turkey-induced coma, send a quick text or phone call to each of them, thanking them for their role in your life. It will make your Thanksgiving Day, and your life, more fulfilling.