This holiday greeting from our president and CEO, Rob Kretzinger, was shared with WesleyLife's team members earlier this week. We hope you will find it meaningful as well. Happy Thanksgiving!
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about what matters most — not just the things that fill our calendars, but the people and purpose that fill our lives. Gratitude has a way of bringing that into focus.
This year, I’m especially thankful for each of you. Whether you’re serving residents in our communities, supporting individuals in their homes, preparing meals, or keeping things running behind the scenes, your work makes a real difference every day. The compassion, patience, and commitment you bring are what make WesleyLife who we are.
Our mission — Guided by Christian compassion, we support the independence, health, and well-being of older adults wherever they call home — is founded on generosity. Donors and volunteers have helped us grow from serving a handful of people in 1947 to enriching thousands of lives each year. Because of that generosity, and because of your work, we’ve been able to keep our Good Samaritan promise for 78 years: that no one is ever asked to leave because they’ve outlived their resources. That’s something we can all be grateful for.
This holiday season will be a little bittersweet for my family and me. It’s our first without my mom, whose love and faith continue to shape the way I think about gratitude and grace. Still, Glenda and I are thankful to be spending time with our three children and six grandchildren, who remind us that life goes on and that there’s so much joy yet to be lived.
We’re reminded in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Gratitude doesn’t mean every season is easy; it means we keep finding reasons to give thanks anyway.
As you celebrate this Thanksgiving, I hope you find time to rest, to be present with those you love, and to remember that what you do here and out in the rest of the world matters more than you might realize.
