For what or whom are you most thankful? The question is often asked this time of year as Thanksgiving approaches.

The kindergarteners might say, “Mom and Dad.” Or the teenager might say, “Nothing.”

Newlyweds could likely say, “my spouse,” while older couples might point to children or their own health.

Should the answers be any different for Christians?

Christians should say, “Jesus,” or perhaps, “His grace,” but sometimes our priorities get messed up.

If the question were posed inside a church building or group, Jesus would almost certainly be top of mind.

If asked on a Saturday during the fall, the answer might hinge on a football team.

At the deer camp, the answer might be about a prized rifle or a recent trophy buck.

It’s funny how our priorities change with location.

Priorities and gratitude also change with years.

As a child I can recall the pending Thanksgiving holiday meant two things — tons of good food and inching closer to Christmas.

Over the years, the food has become less important, but the passing holidays remind me of what’s second most important in our world — the people around us.

In the New Testament as He was being challenged, Jesus said the most important commandment was to love God and the second to love one another.

Sounds simple enough, but dang those are tough to follow every day.

Some folks are easy to love, and some seem so difficult that it’s almost impossible.

The guy who cut you off on the way to work and honked at you? Yes, you need to love that guy, too.

Surely not that mean old man that lives down the street and fusses about how fast you drive? Yep, him, too.

What about the punks who fired guns throughout town and are now facing murder charges? Yes, especially them.

What about Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? Yes, God tells us we need to love them, too.

God didn’t spare us anyone in his second most important commandment, and as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I’m especially thankful for that.

You see, any of us could be someone else’s, “Not that guy?” couldn’t we?

We might already be “that guy” for lots of people.

Sadly, our society’s tolerance for people who aren’t like us has become thinner than a piece of onion paper.

Please don’t confuse “tolerance” with acceptance. I’ll agree with the argument that Christian society has largely simply stood by quietly while the world around us crumbled morally, ethically and spiritually.

Christians should stand up and point out things that are wrong and un-Christ-like, even if it means looking in the mirror or holding up a mirror to others we may like.

But we shouldn’t seek to alienate and eviscerate anyone. That’s certainly not what Jesus did and not what He guided us to do, either.

So as we move into the Thanksgiving season this week and ahead Christmas, the stresses of which often bring out the worst in all of us, let’s try to remember we are supposed to love and respect one another, regardless of how difficult the task is.

Also, let’s be thankful that we live in a country that allows us to worship God if we’d like and that we have the ability to travel freely without encumbrance.

I hope you and yours have a safe, happy Thanksgiving and that you find a moment to remember who gives us all that we have and to love Him and love our fellow men and women.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.