I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with Thanksgiving. Well, I’m so glad you asked! This week we enter into the holiday season, with Thanksgiving first up. It’s a big deal. We do Thanksgiving much like we did it in the South when I was kid: full blast! Family, food, football, more food, opportunities to receive advice from family members that shouldn’t be giving it, more food, more football, and hopefully, some cold, snappy weather.

So headed into this Wednesday to Sunday extravaganza of feasts, how’s your heart? Are you ready? As a Christ-follower, have you thought through this time?

Hey listen, I get it. Many of you are bone dead tired and you just need to sleep a lot. And then take a nap. But when you wake up, may I encourage you to prepare for this time and not just coast through it? We the church, the body of Christ, have responsibilities when it comes to these moments.

HOW WE LIVE AND BREATH IN THESE SPACES OF PEOPLE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY BEARS WITNESS TO WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE.

I know that many of you want your family members to become Christians, right? But the method of telling them they are wrong and they need to change falls miserably short of the actual plan of evangelism Jesus has for us. It’s the same plan He followed when he was here, did you know that?

Scripture tells us that not only did Jesus have a mom and dad, but He had at least 4 brothers and 2 sisters, which means He probably had some crazy Tios and Tias as well, conoces? :) He also had people He hung out with that were the "lesser thans" -- the ones people looked down upon -- so much so that He was called a drunk and a glutton (dude who eats too much) by the church folk of the day. Didn’t stop Jesus. He didn’t care what they thought of Him.

So what was different? What made Him so popular with the drunks, the thieves, the perverts, the liars, the prostitutes, pretty much all the sinners? The only thing I can come up with is this: evidently He loved them. Really well.

JESUS CHOSE TO SERVE THEM WHERE THEY WERE INSTEAD OF DEMANDING THEY JOIN HIM WHERE HE WAS.

What follows is a list of things I believed Jesus did during His holiday times and feasting days. Maybe you and I can choose to be like Jesus this Thanksgiving.

Jesus said hello to everyone when He arrived. Valley style.

This was a new custom to me when I married my sweet Latina hotty, Selina. White folk don’t say hello to everyone when you arrive at a party...but Latinos do! I’ve started to enjoy this custom and realize it is a wonderful way of letting people know they matter and that you are thankful to be there.

Jesus demanded nothing.

It is so easy to come into a family meal or party and quietly, but clearly, want people to meet our expectations. OUR wants. OUR demands. Honestly, how has that worked out for you in the past? Let's be like Jesus this year and drop that bad holiday habit. Let’s be the people that come in thankful if we get a roll, let alone all the food we want. Let's be thankful for everyone who’s there. Yep. Even that relative. People who demand nothing are in a wonderful position to show where their true happiness comes from. Witness.

Jesus did not look to be served, but to serve.

There's nothing worse than the people that come to your party and just want to be the slug. The one who sits there, eats, enjoys everything you offer, and gives nothing in return. Yuck! Don’t be that person! Serve, but let me offer this. Serve quietly. Don’t ask to take out the trash. Just do it. Don’t ask whether or not you need to grab a wipie and take care of those monster mocos on that kid...just do it! Y’all know Jesus did this! You know He was taking care of stuff and no one knew who did it because He was content just to let His heavenly Father know He was about His business. Quietly serving. Quietly giving witness to God the Father.

Jesus spent time talking to those no one was interested in.

So you have some weird family members... and weird family friends. Everyone does. If you can’t think of anyone, maybe it’s you. These are the folks that LIVE to come to these events. Why? Because they don’t go to a lot of them. Because they are boring. Or they talk too much. Or they don’t ask questions. Or they’re not really interested in you. They are interested in you being interested in them. What a pain, right? I know, I agree! But Jesus loved on these folks. He listened to them. He heard their boring stories over and over because He showed them agape love. Heavenly love. Love that is a deep calling, not a responsive emotion. So be like Jesus, pour something delicious to drink, grab a turkey leg...and listen.

Jesus encouraged those who needed it.

This is one we can all do, but many times we forget. Encourage your family! Encourage your friends! Everyone responds well to encouragement. It’s free for you to give and it’s priceless to receive. Many people have begun the long arduous process of real change when someone who chose to care for them encouraged them in their need.

Jesus didn’t leave the party until help was given to clean up.

Okay, I know I don’t have any scripture for this one, so settle down. But Jesus was pretty clear that we are to serve others, put others first, care for folks in their need, so I guess I do! Serve before you leave this year. Help you Tia/Abuela/Friend with the dishes before you leave! Take a load of trash out! Sweep a little, wipe the sticky off the table. I can totally see our King, the Lord of Lords, Creator of all, Redeemer of sin, doing these menial things.

Jesus said goodbye to everyone when He left and let them know they mattered.

As we do at the beginning of the party, Valley folks say goodbye to everyone with a hug, a kiss, and a handshake. To everyone. Let people know you appreciate them hosting the party. Look them in the eye. Let them know you mean it.

This year, let’s be like Jesus. Let’s be thankful for everything we have been given. It’s so much. And, let's serve.