Thanksgiving will be here three weeks! I look forward to the day filled traditions, good food, and family. I have some special memories of childhood days gathered with all the relatives . Back in the day, we all dressed up in our “good” clothes for these family get-togethers. This was a special occasion, after all!
When I’m visiting with my mom I love looking at the old albums containing photos from those gatherings. I look deep into the pictures at the tables, the decor, the apron my grandma had on. I sometimes wish I could jump back to that time to hear the chatter, the cousins playing, the parade playing on the television and the men talking about football or their latest hunting trip.
Wow, this week it seems like fall has slipped in around the corner and into the countryside where we live. The mornings have been quite brisk. Mid-day it is warm, but when the sun lowers just a tad in the early evening, the chill sets in once again. I have to say I’m enjoying it after some pretty hot days last summer. As we were taking a walk after supper last night I mentioned to my husband that fall is becoming a favorite season. I love the long shadows in the early evening, the crickets chirping, the comfort of a throw on my lap while on the backyard swing, and the brisk morning temperatures. I’m also seeing the beginning of colors in the trees and bushes. Beautiful.🍂
Thank you. Two powerful little words that mean so much to the hearer. Recently on Instagram, a gentleman posted this:
I’ve been living with Gen Z-er’s the last couple of years and I love these guys, they’re super guys, but there’s a generational weakness – and one of those is the expression of gratitude – saying thank you and writing thank you notes when people do you good.
Remember when you were a child and you couldn’t wait to become a teenager? If you could have, you would have skipped from ten to thirteen so you could enjoy all the wonder of the teen years! But in so doing, you would have missed out on all that is special about being 10, 11 and 12. It’s the blessing of the entrance into the teen years. You are changing and it’s pretty wonderful.
In our society, Christmas is the “thirteenth birthday” everyone’s wanting to hurry to, and in the rush, Thanksgiving is becoming forgotten. If you have your tree up right now, I’m not shaming you, but I want to encourage us all to make much of this wonderful holiday at the end of the month. I’m hoping I can inspire you to relish the wonder of Thanksgiving.
My mind’s eye envisions holidays in the past that included paper turkeys decorating the table, drippy candles and real acorns that also dotted the tablescape. Simple name cards mark the place where each guest will sit. The smell of pumpkin pie wafts from the kitchen. Colored leaves ironed in wax paper are hung in the windows. It’s simple and wonderful and very much anticipated,
Have you ever gotten past a “big” holiday only to realize that you missed it? Oh, you celebrated with the food, the decorations and the flare, but you got so caught up in all the trappings that you didn’t really celebrate the true holiday. I think we’ve all been there a time or two (or twenty)!
In order to help us not regret “missing Thanksgiving,” I think it’s important to do some thinking and planning NOW to ensure that the holiday will be celebrated in a way that is a blessing to all who gather because we focused on what was really, truly important. That would not mean the lumpy gravy, the squashed rolls or the dry turkey, but on giving thanks. It’s just so easy to sit down to a bountiful table, everyone starving and ready to dive in, have the blessing for the meal, finish with dessert and football and totally overlook stopping for worship and givng of thanks to our great God for ALL His blessings.
Let me make a couple suggestions to help you plan for this time – no matter the size of the group that gathers.
If you’re married, talk to your husband about how you could incorporate a time of giving thanks into your day. Ask for his input and depend on him to help implement this (if possible).
Consider the food. If the meal is hot and on the table, the time of the blessing might not be the best time to also go around and have everyone share the things for which they’re thankful. That’s spoken from the hostess side who wants the food to be hot! Perhaps during the meal or afterwards would be better.
Let everyone that’s coming know that they need to be thinking about the blessings they could share. Being prepared is helpful for everyone.
Reading a portion of Scripture after dinner would be a great tradition. Psalm 34, 44:4-8, 92, 95, 100, 111, or 138 would all be good choices.
Sing a hymn together. If your family isn’t musical, use Alexa to play it and join in singing!
Spend time praying for one another.
My family has had what we call “Puff Moments” for many years on Thanksgiving Day. We gather in the living room after supper and share our blessings from the past year. There are inevitably many tears shed as we rehearse the ways God has answered prayer or helped in trials. The Puffs get passed around the room! What a sweet time it always is.
Plan ahead and prepare your own heart and that of your guests so you won’t miss out on giving thanks this Thanksgiving.
Share one blessing from this past year. I have my Puff ready!
RefreshHer 