Christmas and Easter are generally thought of as Christian holidays, but I think Thanksgiving is one of God’s favorites. Giving thanks seems to be the oil that enables you to be filled with the Spirit. It definitely is the overflow of the Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5:18-20).
Today I wanted to emphasize the importance for us to learn to recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and investment of those who helped you grow. Paul encourages us to “‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth (Ephesians 6:2-3).'” The obvious implication for this is to give honor to your parents, but there is a greater call to honor your fathers and mothers in the Lord.
It is too easy to pick faults with people and think we have grown beyond those who were a help earlier in our lives. We start seeing their faults and relocate them to a previous time in our lives or mentally move them into a non-essential role in our present lives. Most of these men and women gave sacrificially to your growth, and some put up with your immaturity to prepare soil for you to grow.
God desires us to continue to honor those who have gone before for our benefit. There is promised blessing for you in this honor—even if at worst they are no longer walking in the faith. Each of these people are wonderful in God’s eyes and were blessings from our Heavenly Father (James 1:17). As we honor these gifts, we are preparing the way for similar blessings to come.