Thanksgiving Message
Wishing you all Happy Thanksgiving, I must begin with “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” That’s how the ninth chapter of 2 Corinthians ends; and surely, as we count our blessings this holiday, the gift of our Savior tops the list. From there, really, the list is endless, but I’ll name just a few blessings that spring to mind.
We humbly thank God for the precious freedoms our nation enjoys, and for the peace and prosperity here that are the envy of the world. Let us continually pray for the people in Ukraine, and in the many other nations suffering great turmoil and need.
Here at PBA, we are “enriched in every way,” to borrow more of the Apostle Paul’s words. We thank God for our dedicated faculty and staff. We thank Him for our 3,800-plus students and our more than 19,000 alumni. These groups so often inspire us with their excellence, their creativity and their heart to serve.
We thank our Heavenly Father for the trustees and other supporters who bless Palm Beach Atlantic with their prayers, their leadership and their generosity. As a prime example, we are now celebrating John J. Rinker’s most recent gift to the University. It’s the largest single gift anyone has ever given PBA, and it kicks off a campaign to fund a new building for the Rinker School of Business. John and his wife, Sheila, are “cheerful givers,” as described in 2 Corinthians chapter nine.
I encourage you to read through that chapter anew as you celebrate this holiday. Note how Paul quotes Psalm 112, describing the actions of those who fear the Lord: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.” Thanking God in the midst of our abundance, we must understand that the way we treat our neighbor is the best indicator of how much we love our God. And Jesus calls us to open our hearts and extend our hands to those neighbors in need, those who don’t look like us or believe like us.
I pray that we all may grow in grace, in thankfulness and in generosity. Saint Paul says our generosity will result in more thanksgiving to God. That is a precious promise, a gift that keeps on giving.
