THANKSGIVING
I am already making my list of what I need from the grocery store, for Thanksgiving at my son & daughter-in-law. I am usually asked to bring the same thing: broccoli casserole, frozen pink stuff, deviled eggs and seven-layer salad. I am so blessed that my daughter & family from Virginia, will be here this year. My family here, have never seen their little daughter, who just turned a year last week. It has been three years since my family here have seen her husband, who is in the Navy. I will have all eight of my grandkids & my one great-granddaughter together. Those of you who know me, realize there will be a lot of pictures taken! We are truly going to make some memories! I am so thankful that they are going to make the long trip to us!
Let’s go back to the first Thanksgiving. In the early 1600’s, English colonists had traveled across the ocean to a new land. Most of the passengers failed to survive the first few months. The weakened remaining pilgrims from the voyage, did not know how to take care of themselves in this wild new land. The Indians from the Wampanoag tribe, shared their knowledge of crops and how to build shelter against the cold of the winter. The pilgrims celebrated thanksgiving as a part of their religion. But those were days of prayer, not feasting. Our national holiday stems from the feast held in autumn of 1621 between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. This was celebrated, in thanksgiving, for their first successful harvest.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Sometimes it gets pushed to the side by all the Christmas decorations and merchandise. We as the family of God, should celebrate thanksgiving every day. There are so many things for us to be thankful for! Let’s look at some scripture to help get our mind centered.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Paul was finishing up his letter to the Philippian brethren. He uses the word “everything.” He is telling them in every situation to pray to God. When we do this, we can find the kind of peace that only God can give, which is beyond our understanding. This kind of peace can help protect us from external corrupting influences and keep our hearts and minds, focused on His truth. Thank you, God, for giving us this peace!
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 Paul shares that on the same night Jesus was betrayed He said, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’’ In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Especially when wetake the Lord’s Supper, we are to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us through His earthly body, giving us victory over sin through Him. Without that sacrifice, we would have no hope. We need to be thankful every day for our Lord and Savior!
Philippians 1:3-4 reads “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with all joy.” Paul ends this letter to the Philippian brethren, letting them know he prays for them in love and in thanksgiving, for all they have done to spread the gospel.
Psalm 107, starts the chapter out with “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Then,four different times in this chapter, we read “Oh, that man would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. And for His wonderful works to the children of men.” This chapter tells, in praise, of the things the Lord has done for the Israelites and applies to us today. Sit down and read this amazing chapter in praise to God for His goodness and mercy which endures forever! Actually, read the whole book of Psalm some time. Amazing!
Even when the happenings of life get us down, there are so many things we still can be thankful for. I have realized when I am down and out, if I start thinking of all my blessings-my attitude towards the struggle I am going through, changes. I look at life in a more positive way. I go to God in prayer and thanksgiving. He helps me realize that through Him there is hope for the future. Maybe my trial has not changed, but my attitude has!
So, this Thanksgiving when you sit down to the dinner table, look around you at your family and friends God has given you. Put away your cell phones and focus on what really matters-the family and friends who surround you. Don’t just start putting the mashed potatoes with gravy on your plate, but stop and give thanks for the gifts the good Lord has given you. There are many this holiday season who are not as blessed as we are. People who are cold and hungry. People who will not have left overs like we always do for the next meal. We have abundance. They have nothing. While you are reading this article, look around you right now. What do you see? I have so much to decorate every season. I see so many reminders of my mother in my home. After she passed away, I have furniture and trinkets that remind me of the love she had for her family and the blessings she gave us! Life is fleeting! Tell your loved ones today how much you love them! As I am writing this, the snow is flying outside. I am in this warm home. How long has it been since I thanked God for that? I have found that once I start making a list of my blessings, that there is just not enough paper to list them all. Put into your mind something you are thankful for and each day, pray for that one thing all day. When you do that, no matter what is going on in your life, your attitude will change and you will remember the hope that God has given us!
I am going to just write one more article after this one, before the end of the year. I don’t know about you, but my life is truly crazy after Thanksgiving. I am still working and as I have told people, work gets in the way of my social life! Ha! There are so many things I want to get accomplished before the end of the year. So many places to be-people to see-parties to go to. I have truly been blessed and I need to remember to be thankful. I am so thankful for you reading this article today and walking this journey with me. I hope that my articles will give you hope for your future and help you put one foot in front of the other on this journey, we call life.
The picture that I put at the first part of this post, is one Thanksgiving many years ago. My daughter, Ashley was in high school at the time. My husband loved the “blow ups” for each occasion-Santa, pink bunny and turkey! My oldest grandson, Austin is on Ashley’s shoulders. My granddaughters, Alexis and Aubrie by her side. And the little one is A.J. I remember saying “Ashley has stinky feet!” And that is the reaction they all had. What a blessed memory! One of my favorite pictures from many years ago. My husband has long since passed away and my daughter is now married with her four little ones. There are times that I feel sad about the time that has flown by but I look at a picture or think of something that happened and it makes me smile and brings me joy! Don’t just look to the past. Look at the here and now and be thankful! Cherish the memories and praise God for them.
May you all have an amazing Thanksgiving with family and friends! Take pictures so that you can look back. There are many of my family members who have passed away and I cherish all those pictures that I have of them, to look at and remember times gone by. May God bless you, give you hope and help you to be thankful, not only this time of year, but every day.
Till next time! Keela