For September 3rd:

^“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17

Acting Out of Thankfulness

            I have just finished my first semester of college at the University of Tennessee and two things that I have learned to be thankful for during my time there are community and people who donate their time to others.

           

Community

On campus it seems as if I am living in a city populated entirely of twenty year olds. It is very easy to slip into the background by going to class, the cafeteria and back to the dorm without associating with a single familiar face.

            I understand that God did not create me, or anyone, to live completely alone. He created us all in his image so that whenever we interact with each other there is a chance to see a part of him reflected by each other.

            Despite not having a roommate this past semester God did provide a great community for me through the various campus ministries. I have been given a community so that I do not simply feel like 0014798 (my student I.D. number) is my true identity on campus. When I would recognize how he has blessed me with good friends I could not help but be thankful. In my thankfulness the Holy Spirit allowed me to understand how my attitude towards others should be affected by what God had blessed me with.

The harsh reality on campus is that some of the students do live very lonely lives and through my thankfulness for the community I have received I understand that I ought to help relieve that loneliness where I see it. Often times my part can be doing something as simple as asking my suitemate how her day was instead of going straight to my own room and closing the door. I have also realized how, for myself, acting out of thankfulness for my community affects my duty of keeping in contact with my friends from high school whom I no longer go to school with. 

I believe the above verse speaks to how Christ calls us to act out of thankfulness.

Natalie Thedford (College Sophomore)