Thanksgiving is upon us! Pies are made and tonight, I will make the stuffing, stuff the bird and Walt will put it in the refrigerator for me. Early in the morning, he will place the bird in the oven and shortly there after, the aroma will fill the whole house. Preparing Thanksgiving dinner together is hard work, but we love to do it. Walt has long taken on the role of cutting up all the celery and onions for the stuffing and the most important job of all; the taster.  According to him, “you can never have too much sage!’ For this, I am thankful! Because of him, my stuffing is some of the best!

Even in our most difficult years, when finances were tight and cupboards were bare, God has always provided enough to share with others. Whether it’s preparing a loaf of bread, opening a can of corn, slicing up a tomato or baking an apple pie, we’ve enjoyed God’s goodness and we’re thankful. Thanksgiving isn’t just about family and eating until you burst, it’s about reflecting on the year past and what God has brought you through. It’s about being thankful.

What are you thankful for? What has God done for you this year? Do you have a job? A home? A car? A faithful husband? If you’ve lost any of those, are you still thankful? Are you still alive? Can you walk? Are you still able to speak? Do you have hands that work? Eyes that see? Ears that hear? If you’re unable to do any of these things, are you still thankful?

Being thankful changes the atmosphere. Jesus gave thanks for the little fish and loaves and because of that, it fed the multitude. He gave thanks at Lazarus’ tomb and the dead man came to life. When we are thankful, God responds favorably, but when we whine and complain, we get misery and more to complain about. I choose to be thankful. It may be bad but it could be worse and I’m thankful for that. Colossians 3:17 says, “Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.”

Thank you Father for your provision for me, my family and my friends. Thank you for the strangers who come into my life because you even have purpose for that chance meeting. Thank you for the weird warfare I encounter, it also has purpose. For the good and the bad, I thank you. You’ve developed me into quite the character through it all and because of it, I’m totally devoted to you. When I’m down, you lift me up. When I’m up, I lift up others. I live to be an extension of your hands and your love because it has changed my life forever. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.