AT THANKSGIVING, a teacher told her first-grade students to draw what they were thankful for.
One drew a farmer because farmers raise turkeys.
Another student drew someone who looked like a policeman. They protect us, she said.
Douglas drew a hand.
Whose hand is this? The teacher asked.
He mumbled: It's yours.
Mrs. Klein remembered that she had taken Douglas by hand from time to time. But she did not know that it meant so much to him.
THERE are things you do to people that mean so much to them, and you may never know.
When three of David's soldiers broke through the garrison of the Philistines to get water from the well at Bethlehem for David, they never knew it would mean much to him.
He was so touched and did not drink it.
Instead, David poured it out as a drink offering to God. (2 Sam. 23:15-16)
A WOMAN at Bethany broke an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus' head.
The disciples saw it as a waste, but Jesus called her action beautiful.
She anointed me for burial. Wherever the gospel is preached, her story will be told. (Matt. 26:6)
YOU WALK in error when you label what God calls good evil.
However, when you are a blessing, God is pleased. You start a chain of good events that begins with you and returns to you.
This means your harvest follows you wherever you go.(Gal. 6:7)
MORDECAI wanted to be a blessing to his cousin, Esther. So, when her parents died, he had compassion for her.
He adopted and treated her as one of his daughters. (Esther 2:5-7)
MORDECAI understood the times like the sons of Issachar. (1 Chron. 12:32) He knew what to do.
So, he positioned Esther for the future—which is what mentors do.
WHEN the search for beautiful young virgins came to them, Mordecai took her to the king's palace. He handed her to Hegai, who had charge of the king's harem.
SOMEONE said that God uses mentors to spark life change and legacy impact.
Mordecai forbade her from revealing her nationality and family background—and Esther watched what she shared. (Esther 2:10 & 20)
EVERY DAY, he walked back and forth near the harem to find out how she was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2:10)
Esther found favour with the king, and she was made the queen.
You are unstoppable when God authors your life.
MORDECAI was a man of integrity. He knew his place.
Sitting at the king's gate, he heard two officers plot to assassinate the king.
He shared the findings with Esther, who, in turn, told the king.
The matter was investigated, and the men were impaled on poles.
AFTER all these, Haman was promoted. King Xerxes elevated him higher than the other nobles.
He wanted all the nobles to bow to him. But Mordecai would not kneel or pay him honour.
Haman found out the nationality of Mordecai. He looked for ways to destroy him and the Jews.
So, he told the king that some people did not obey his laws. Haman advised the king to issue a decree to destroy them.
King Xerxes went along. The couriers were sent all over the kingdom.
Be the best by learning to handle the worst
WHEN Mordecai heard what happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth.
He walked as far as the king's gate. There was great mourning among the Jews with fasting, weeping and wailing.
When Esther's eunuchs and female attendants told her, she was greatly distressed.
She sent Hathak, one of the eunuchs attached to her, to find out what was wrong.
Mordecai told him everything. He also gave him a copy of the proclamation for their destruction.
And Esther said no one appears before the king without an appointment.
MORDECAI made her see a possible future.
He said: If you remain silent now, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.
And who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a time as this?" (Esther 4:12-14)
He taught her to be the best by learning to handle the worst.
CHRISTIAN mentors do not build a reliance on themselves but point their proteges to God - John Maxwell.
Esther replied, "Go, gather together all the Jews in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.
I and my attendants will fast as you do. I will go to the king when this is done, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)
She wasn't only calling for prayers. She prayed, too.
God gave her favour before the king. Haman was hanged.
Final Thought
Thanksgiving begins with obedience—and obedience is success.
You can truly thank God when you have obeyed Him.
Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!