Psalm 107:8-9
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Most of us have fond memories around our parents’ table at Thanksgiving. For us, sometimes it was just my parents, grandparents and great grandmother, but almost always someone who did not have anyone to celebrate with. Maybe a friend or a widow. All the women would cook for two days! So much love and work went into it. So many Thanksgivings have been memorable. Hands down the best was the one I wrote about last year. It was hamburgers on what was left of my mom’s back porch following Hurricane Andrew. Her house was destroyed, but she was safe. My sister’s house was destroyed, but she was safe. That gives the word THANKSGIVING a whole new meaning.
It’s easy to live a life of thanksgiving when things are going our way. It’s another story during times of trial.
We are surrounded by people whose Thanksgiving will be a time of loss or maybe even regrets, missing loved ones or separation from loved ones.
As a church, we need to remember those whose Thanksgiving will not be like it used to be.
One of the best things about the Thanksgiving meal is that there is room for one more. Why not invite someone to your house for Thanksgiving? It is one of the biggest blessings your family will receive. The thrill in your guest’s eyes to not be celebrating alone. The church could give you some names of people in our church with no family or cannot afford to put on a big meal.
This is something else we can thank God for. We are a people, a nation that is blessed beyond belief.
Now I close this article with my funniest Thanksgiving. It was when I was a missionary on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. I lived with a great Christian family. They attended church off the reservation. Often times, they were asked to attend their church Thanksgiving dinner in their native costumes. They were the “Token Indians.” So, as we neared Thanksgiving, they asked me if I would wear my “pilgrim” outfit. I was the token pilgrim at their family dinner.
Bro. Greg