“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” James 1:2

“I have so much to be thankful for! The Lord is so good…so faithful…so good.” His voice trailed off in contemplation and prayer.

Alva lives in Jamaica. He is 82 years old and blind. He lives in a shack about a half mile back on a rocky footpath on Cornwall Mountain, the impoverished rural community that GLCC has served for the past 10 years. His dwelling has no running water, no electricity, no bathroom, no kitchen; he sleeps on a filthy mattress and sits all day in a plastic deck chair. He shares his home with a mentally unstable nephew who steals food from him and at times is abusive. He is often very alone. He eats one meal a day which is hiked in by Pastor Dwaine, a local area pastor, who is supplied by money donated by GLCC Jamaica team members.

Every time I am in Jamaica, I make it a point to go see Alva. To connect with him is like talking with Jesus, or maybe the apostle Paul. He has wisdom, insight, and exudes the fruit of the Spirit. The Lord reveals deep things to Alva up in his shack on the mountain. He is a breath of fresh air to this world-weary soul. Several weeks ago, when I was in Jamaica to plan our next mission trip, I sat with Alva and we sang hymns together for about 30 minutes. He remembers them all, word for word. And then we prayed. He always prays for others with depth, passion, and fervency.

Alva is incredibly thankful, but I’m not always sure for what. He has literally nothing. He has Jesus, but usually has no idea when his next meal is coming. He is poor but is so rich in faith. He has a lifestyle of gratitude, which rebukes my feeble flabby faith.

When I get back to NOVA after spending time with Alva, I am astonished by how many of my so called struggles are “first world problems.” Traffic, slow internet connections, weak cell phone coverage, long lines at grocery stores, poor service at a restaurant, a flat tire, or even not being able to find something that I have misplaced among the abundance of my possessions. All of my complaints are actually evidence of my blessings and physical prosperity.

This Thanksgiving, as we gather with family and friends, let us truly count our blessings. And let us begin with a heart filled with gratitude for our relationship with Jesus. And let’s remember our less fortunate brothers and sisters in impoverished, persecuted regions of our world. When Jesus said that in the kingdom of heaven, “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” He was talking about people like Alva.

May God grant us humility, gratitude, and generosity this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!