As I walked down the gravel road I could feel the cold sneaking into my coat. Winter’s approach grew stronger each day. I’ve lived in cold climates before. I grew up in Indiana and braved the Michigan winters through college. However, this winter felt different. It wasn’t because of the cold or the frost covered grass. It felt different because I was different.

Last winter I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. As a new mom, I was also helping my mom overcome cancer treatment. The winter before, I was newly married and adjusting to life as a wife. I look back at the last two years and I remember how much God can change a person in so little time. In two years I got married, became a mom, and helped my mom through a life-changing illness. It was hard but it was beautiful. God showed me what it means to be compassionate and patient. He also showed me how valuable the gift of life is and how fleeting it can become.

As my family and I settle into our new life at Warm Beach Camp, we are surrounded by an unusually warm and generous community, who every day, reminds us of God’s provision and grace.

1 Corinthians 1:4-10 reads, “I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge. God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters… be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Can you believe it? As we gather with family and friends let’s remember how God has worked, and is working in us still. Let’s show kindness to others and remember that God is working in each one of them too. Let’s remember how fortunate we are to experience the freedom of relationship with Christ and how blessed we are with the right to exercise that freedom.

We are so blessed to be fervently loved by the Creator. So let’s give thanks to the One who is in everything that is good, and who loves us more than we could ever imagine.

-Kayla Stikeleather
Marketing Assistant