12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
We live in a world where offenses are an everyday occurrence. At any given moment, someone can upset us with a word or harm us with an action. The Apostle Paul reminds us to be careful in how we manage offenses and arguments. If we wait in wisdom, the Holy Spirit will show us how offenses can become great opportunities to practice gratitude.
A perfect day, or a perfect relationship, or a perfect job shouldn't be determined by how well you avoided conflicts and confrontations. Someone will eventually disappoint you and your ideal situation will fade like a fantasy.
Instead, judge the quality of your interactions through the eyes of mercy and with a heart of thanksgiving. Take a moment and reflect on the long-suffering of God towards you. Humble yourself and submit to the memory of God's grace over your life. Pull on your spirit to rise above your circumstance and pursue peace.
When we remember how precious the love of God is for our own salvation, it will be difficult to criticize and condemn another person. Our joy in the Lord should help us resist the temptation to argue, back-bite and seek revenge.
The Thanksgiving holidays can be more than a time to celebrate what God has done for you. It can also be a time to offer kindness and mercy to others who may not have been very kind and merciful to you. Thanksgiving Day is a great opportunity to acknowledge God by walking in love toward someone else.