[Onebrother] thoughts about Thanksgiving

[Courtney Robinson]

I was just reading an article about the first Thanksgiving.  The author reflected on how much suffering the Pilgrims had been through and how she and her children were reading some original documents from the time, discovering that there was more to the first Thanksgiving than our romanticized conception.  This made me think of our study and the hard "grace" we talked about Sunday.  This author (Courtney Sanford) made the application below about not feeling like we have to solve all our children's problems:

	Once we discover the truth, we will want to apply it to our own lives. How can we cultivate the strength of character, hope, and thankfulness that those original Pilgrims possessed? 	The Bible tells us in Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” 	I believe the hardships that the Pilgrims endured produced their thankfulness. We can do our children a favor by not smoothing out all their problems for them. Allowing them 			opportunities to be challenged, or even to suffer something unpleasant, might produce some perseverance and character in them, too.

It was comforting to me to be reminded that although I hate to see my children suffer, I do not have to strive to give them a problem- free life.  The afflictions they face may very well be the grace of God to them, as mine are to me.  I long to see perseverance, character, and hope in them.  If I really do long for these things, much of my anxiety over their troubles is a waste of my mental and emotional energy.  

Just wanted to share that with ya'll!

Love,
Courtney