Gratitude-- Cloud of Witnesses

Hey guys! Sorry we’ve skipped a couple of weeks of the blog—I had some stuff going on trying to get ready for Christmas lists, and then I was out for a training (which I’m excited to share more about soon!) But—we are back it, and for the month of November, we will be looking at different ways and circumstances in which we can (or at least should) be grateful.

                Today, as it’s All Saints’ Day, I’d like to look at the way in which we can be thankful for those who have gone on before us. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” As we take time today, or even this upcoming Sunday at church (if your church celebrates this day), we pause to thank God for that “cloud of witnesses” that has made a difference in our lives. These saints that are mentioned are not necessarily the ones who have been officially sainted by the church, but rather any follower of Christ.

                Some of us have the blessing of having an amazing family legacy of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and others who poured in to us from a young age, teaching us about love, faith, and what it means to be a follower of Christ. However, others of us may not have been raised in home where faith was emphasized. I was discussing this verse with our CARES clients this week, and I asked them to identify three people (currently living or already passed) who they would say were in their cloud, encouraging them in their faith. Some of them had a page full of people, and a couple of others really struggled to even identify two people who had been an encouragement to them in their faith.

                Watching these women struggle to identify those Spiritual encouragers in their faith, I had a couple of immediate thoughts. The first, I need to remember to daily thank God for those encouragers that He has given me. I also need to regularly thank those in my “cloud of witnesses” that are still with us. When we are blessed enough to have people who support us, who speak truth to us, and who help us draw closer to God, we need to acknowledge them, and thank them, and realize that not everyone has that supportive community.

                Secondly, and what I shared with the CARES women, was that even if we don’t feel like we have had those people to look to as examples, we can make sure that we are serving as those example to those who are walking a few steps behind us. We can serve as a that “cloud” for people who are in our lives. We don’t have to be perfect in order to be an encouragement (if that were a prerequisite, no one would ever qualify.) We simply have to be willing to point out the positives, and to take a little extra time in order to love and encourage and hold up those who we see growing in their faith journeys around us.

                God knows that life is not always easy—that is one of the reasons that He never intended for us to walk this journey alone. Thanks be to God that many others have walked a similar path, and that we can learn from them, and be encouraged to continue to “run the race” that He has for us. Take time today to thank God for your “cloud,” to thank someone in your “cloud,” and to serve as a “cloud” for someone else!