Thanksgiving Thoughts

We all have people who bring out the worst in us. People who somehow trigger the selfish, mean, unstable parts of our personalities which we normally keep under tight control. These people can be mean themselves, or just nice people who bring out the worst in us. To quote a friend of mine, “They make us into juniors in high school all over again.”

It is very hard when these are people with whom you have a shared history, or a familial bond, or a kinship, and often we are blind to the effect that these folks have upon us.

As we approach Thanksgiving, with its minefields and booby-traps of close associations, we need to watch out for these people. The ones we just can’t seem to let go of, for the good or the bad, who change us into people our loved ones don’t want to know. We should make it our holiday resolution to safeguard ourselves from the pettiness, and jealousies, and the “not fair”s that can rear their heads at this time of year.

Spend a little more time in prayer. Surround ourselves with those who make you want to be a better person. Actually read a bit of that Bible that usually just collects dust on the shelf. Keep hold of who you really are and of who you want to be, and don’t let these outside influences become inside ones.