“May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers” (1 Thes. 3:11-13).

Maybe that’s a good Thanksgiving mantra — pour on the love. That’s it. Just love people like you have been loved. Love people like God has loved you.

If you really understand and embrace the love of Christ Jesus, then loving others won’t be nearly as difficult. You know that the love of God is like a flood flowing down to water a single flower, so it can’t help but flow onto those around you.

I do believe that a loving heart is a thankful heart. This Thanksgiving, focus on gratitude. Focus on what you have rather than lamenting what you don’t. I know, I know. Easier said than done sometimes.

But when you can get to the place of choosing joy and thanksgiving over bitterness and entitlement, it really is better. You are better for it. When you can come to the place of forgiving others, not because they deserve it or even ask for it, but because you yourself need to be freed from carrying the weight of resentment, then you can be thankful again.

Let us love well like God loved us, bringing out our best selves in the process. Above all, let’s give thanks that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating the greatest love of all.