I would like to tell a story that happened a few years ago...

I was a Student Pastor to High School and Junior High students for 20 years. During that time I was able to take the teens all over the US and different parts of the world on 21 mission trips. One of those trips was to Brasil on 3 occasions. We spent 8 days on the Amazon River living on a boat and 8 days in a big city. I could share all kinds of cool stuff that happened on these trips but for some reason, this one event keeps coming to mind this week.

The last time I went on this trip was when the economy tanked a few years ago. I had a youth coach with me that owned a construction business that got hit really hard. He almost backed out of going with us but decided to go ahead anyway. When we arrived at our "village" where we were to build some projects (greenhouses, a church, and a home) this guy always got up early before anyone else. It was always right at daybreak when he would go sit and watch the sun come up. It was about the 4th day he came to me and said every morning he would watch a young kid get in a wooded canoe. The kids was about 10 years old. He would paddle to a bend in the river, put out some fishing nets, and fish for about an hour. He then would come back in for the day. The kid did this every morning. The next morning I woke up to watch this kid. Sure enough right a daybreak, out he went with his canoe, fished for about an hour, and then went back in.

I asked the missionary who led our trip about this young kid. He checked around and found out this kid was without parents and he went out every morning to catch food for the day. If he caught fish he ate - if he didn't he went hungry.

The next morning found my friend and me waiting for the sun to rise. Again, here came this young boy out to fish. I looked at my friend and he had tears coming down his face and he said to me, "That kid would love to have my problems back home. I may lose my business back home, but I can always rebuild it. I have a home, way too much to eat, a healthy family, and the opportunity to live in a great nation. If I work hard, I will never have to live like he does."

Point taken.

Happy Thanksgiving guys!! We are a blessed nation and people. I hope each of you take in the moment and enjoy time with your family. May we never take it for granted.

Sermon complete .

Great story and thanks for sharing! We take our 7th and 8th graders to a mission in South East Kentucky every June. It's a great eye opener for our young teens to serve kids their age who are hungry, have so little, yet somehow are generally happy and have great attitudes. Lots to be thankful for. Thanks, Bean.

Nice sermon, Bean. Thanks!!

Your friend was exactly right, great story.
I hope all of you and your family have a happy holiday season.
Thanks for the story Bean.

Thanks for sharing! Great story, it's so easy to forget at times how lucky and blessed we are to live in this country.

Blessing to all.

Thanks for sharing, Bean. Happy Thanksgiving to all....

Thank you Pastor Brian!!

Thanks Bean!

I've been thinking about doing a trip like that. Told my wife I think if one went with the right frame of mind, that you could have a wonderful experience helping those much less fortunate and come home and never take for granted how good we have it.

Thanks Brian......... to be lucky enough to live in the most prosporous country in the world, we all should wake up each morning and say Thank You.

I wish all here a GREAT Thanksgiving day, we will all eat more than we should, visit with family and friends. And yet some in our country will not have dinner or a place they call home. I believe most is by choice or life choice, I feel for the youth who have no "choice".

Say a prayer of thanks tomorrow for living in this great country......... and those who protect us.

Happy thanksgiving to all HH members and guests.

Yep, thanks Bean and Happy Thanksgiving to all !!

Nice story bean. happy turkey day to all. h.h.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! A special thanks to our firefighters, police, military and anyone else who serves & protects us on a daily basis!

As Deer Season Rages on, Never Forget That it's All About Giving Thanks

Thanks for sharing the story with us bean. True to what everyone has said.

We are truly a Blessed People and Nation

To all a Very Thoughtful Happy Thanksgiving !!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I think you guys just about covered it all. Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless America!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, fellas! Lots to be thankful for, to say the least.