Thanksgiving Day is the day after tomorrow. I paused for a moment after I wrote that sentence … caught my breath and thought, Is that correct? Thanksgiving is that close?
Yes, it is. I spent Monday grocery shopping, prepping for Wednesday, when family comes over and helps with the day-before cooking. That’s a newer family tradition that makes Thanksgiving Day much more relaxed. We’ll have traditional dishes like homemade cranberry relish and green bean casserole and a couple of new dishes, too. (Sweet Potato Gratin, anyone? How about Mock Mashed Potatoes?) And this year, like last year, we’re baking two turkeys. That way we have plenty of leftovers to send home with everyone.
In the midst of the cooking and baking, followed by our family version of feasting, there will be times of sharing what we are thankful for. Of looking back over the last year and recalling both the challenges overcome and the blessings received … the unexpected joys we’ve shared and sorrows we’ve helped each other carry … the clouds that sometimes blurred our vision and the silver linings that surprised us.
Isn’t that at the very heart of Thanksgiving Day? Determining to speak aloud gratitude despite hardships or disappointments, just as the Pilgrims did after suffering through such a harrowing winter of loss and deprivation? Thankfulness, true thankfulness, is not determined by our circumstances, which change, but rather our knowledge of God’s ultimate goodness toward us.
In Your Words: As you look back on the past year, what would you thank God for?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”14hi8″ via=”yes” ]In Others’ Words: A Thanksgiving Prayer http://ctt.ec/14hi8+ #InOthersWords #quote #ThanksgivingPrayer @bethvogt[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”50enm” via=”yes” ]”…For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.” http://ctt.ec/50enm+ #Thanksgiving #Prayer @bethvogt[/ctt]
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Comments 12
Thankful for the friends whose prayers have carried me, and glad I ain’t dead.
Author
Andrew:
I’m thankful for your perseverance, Andrew, and your perspective on life! 🙂
And I am most thankful for you, my friend. Truly. You’ve been a light in deep darkness.
T2020
Author
And you my friend, have been a great encouragement!
T2020
Andrew, we’re glad you’re still with us too!
We’ve added a new daughter-in-love to our family this year. God has blessed me with two great daughters-in-law.
God also showed my husband and me that He plans to use us in new ways. So, that’s been exciting. He continues to bless us through our transition, and I’m thankful.
Author
Jackie:
Isn’t it wonderful when God expands our families? And also when He shows us new paths for our lives? It makes it easier to take those new steps when He’s so clearly said, “This is the way, walk in it.”
I think quite possibly it’s a year where I appreciate my friends more than ever before, and take fewer things for granted. Today’s also the 20th birthday of my oldest grand-dtr., and I’m very thankful for her as well.
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Dee:
Friends are such a blessing, filling our lives up abundantly with love and wise counsel and encouragement and laughter — so, so many things! And celebrating birthdays? One of my favorite things to do! So Happy Birthday to your granddaughter! 🙂
I’m thankful for many things, but most of all that my nephew Brad is recovering in a great rehab facility and that I was able to talk to him yesterday!
Author
Pat, I know how much you’ve prayed for your nephew. How wonderful that you were able to talk with him!
Ahhh, Beth. I love your traditions, and the thought of homemade cranberry relish about made my mouth water. My family doesn’t care for it, so (sigh) I don’t make it anymore.
I have so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for friends and family who encourage and support me when life feels overwhelming and when disappointments tower over me. I am thankful for truth speakers who remind me of what’s true. And I’m ever thankful for God’s grace, which He’s sprinkled into every day this year.
Author
Jeanne: Your list of “thankful fors” made me smile. 🙂