And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16–19
Heavenly Father, this passage underscores our calling to love all kinds of people in all kinds of situations—including holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving. No calling exposes our need for the gospel more than the command to love well, and no calling better positions us to trust you to do much more than we can ask or imagine. In a year when some families are divided along post-election political lines, may your grace be supersized in our hearts and midst.
Because of your great love for us in Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid of the risks of love. As this Scriptures says, we can “know and rely on the love God has for us”. May your perfect love continue to drive out all our fears—including the fears related to the loving in messy, awkward, broken family stories.
Help us love our family members in fresh and creative ways. Give us thick skins, so we won’t take things too personally; and give us big hearts, so we’ll love family members for who they are, not who we want them to be. Fill us with your kindness, compassion, patience, and forbearance. Nobody in our families is beyond the need or reach of your grace—starting with us.
Replace our irritation with intrigue, and our hair-trigger judgments and reactions with long-fuse listening and respect. Whatever culinary delights show up on our Thanksgiving menu, may the greatest feast be your new mercies and endless patience, welcoming heart and Fatherly kindness. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
