Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving! Tomorrow is the day we celebrate and give thanks for all that God has done. I once read in an actual school textbook that we celebrate Thanksgiving as a reminder of the time the Pilgrims threw a party to give thanks to the Native Americans who had shown them great hospitality.

            Now, let me be clear on this issue. There were Native Americans who were kind and helpful to the new settlers on this continent. But the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Lord for His providence and care over their lives. They left the old country to come here in pursuit of religious liberties. They lost many of their kin and their friends along the way. When they paused to give thanks it was to the Lord who had sustained them in their journey.

            I look forward to gathering with my family tomorrow.  We are expecting both sons, our daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters to join us for dinner.  We will laugh and tell stories. We will watch parades and football on TV.  We will almost certainly (weather permitting) go outside to walk or ride bikes. And we will eat. My goodness will we eat.

            You may not be aware, but I hit the jackpot for cooks when I married. That was not the reason I fell in love with her, but it is certainly a bonus. I will fry the turkey, but Tina will cook the dressing, the sweet potato souffle, the green beans, the mashed potatoes and gravy. And then there will be the desserts. I will say no more.

            While we will do all of these things as a family, there will also be a time when we stop and give thanks. God has been good to us. He has walked with my wife and me as we were unable to have children, and placed two sons in our lives through adoption. He spared one of those sons through an accident that should have taken his life. He has given us a wonderful daughter through marriage, and three of the most precious girls who call us Papa and Gramma. And we are thankful.

            The Bible says, “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I don’t know what is going on in your life. It may be hard time right now. But I want you to remember that the Lord is with you. He has not forsaken you. He is watching over you. You can trust Him for that. And then, you can give thanks.  I pray you will do just that.