A Council Fire Story for Thanksgiving
Once upon a time, a make believe Greystone girl, let’s call her Jenny, was happily walking to lunch with her friends at school. The girls formed a tight group full of laughter and smiles, their hearts warm with that wonderful feeling of acceptance and support that is felt most strongly when with a great group of friends.
As they entered the cafeteria, they confidently plopped their book bags on a table to reserve their places while they stood in line. As they slowly proceeded down the cafeteria line, busily talking to each other, a new girl walked into the cafeteria alone and stood awkwardly as she looked around for a place to sit.
At first, Jenny ignored the new student. She wasn’t being intentionally mean, she was just fully engaged with her friends. She also, truth be told, felt kind of good having such a strong group of friends when the other girl was all alone, but then she remembered how badly she felt whenever she walked into the cafeteria without a group to eat with. How it seemed like every person in the whole school was looking at her and laughing at her.
She also remembered how different it was at camp, when such a thing would never happen. So Jenny did a very simple and a very kind thing. She made eye contact, smiled her best “Greystone Smile,” and said “Hi, I’m Jenny. My friends and I are eating over there. Do you want to sit with us?”
This unselfish act of kindness not only helped another person, it brought another new friend into Jenny’s group. It made the new student thankful in a way that nothing before that day had ever done. She was deeply touched! It made everyone happy and it became a moment that was remembered for a very long time.
This very thing happened to me a long time ago. I remember very well the kindness of a boy who asked me to sit at his table when I was a new transfer student at Hendersonville High School. That simple act of kindness makes me thankful to this day and I remain friends with that man long after I lost touch with my other high school buddies. Our friendship began with that moment of unselfishness, and kindness became the foundation of a long lasting and strong relationship.
Unselfishness means you always notice other people and reflect the love of Jesus on them as best you can. This is a skill developed slowly over time and it must be intentionally developed.
Of course, we can’t talk about the need to be unselfish without mentioning what fuels that ability. We can only be unselfish when we’re first filled to the brim with what Jesus has done for us. We are fully taken care of, valued, and secured in our relationship with Him. Our Redeemer is the giver of every good thing - what do we lack? When you really believe that, you can’t help but spill out that love to everyone around you - you can hold your hands open and live unselfishly, because you have everything you need.
This Thanksgiving, take the opportunity to remember the secret of Greystone and find ways to be more unselfish at home. Start with your family then extend to your friends and neighbors. If you do this simple thing, you might discover the secret of Greystone is also the secret of the best Thanksgiving ever!