Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the family getting together. The delicious smells showering my kitchen. The turkey browning in the oven. The laughter and chatter even while washing the dishes and scrubbing the pans. I smile with the memories of past holidays with loved ones now in heaven and still in our hearts.
And of course, the side dishes. We will have my sister in law’s sweet potato dish. Katie’s homemade pumpkin pie. My mom’s crockpot dressing. Good ol’ green bean casserole and our family joke about needing the recipe to make it just right (We don’t really but we always cut it out of the magazine ads each year and send it to each other) And cranberry jello the grandkids request and we all enjoy.
Gratitude for all God’s gifts overwhelmed my heart this week as I got out the recipes and made these plans for Thursday.
Thank you for family.
Thank you for the ones not in our near bubble we can’t be with this year. We miss them.
Thank you for facetime and zoom to see them anyway.
Thank you for nourishment.
Thank you for health.
Thank you for being able to walk and take deep breaths.
Thank you for the gift of each new day and simply waking up in the morning.
Thank you for the beauty of trees and the fun frolic of sparrows outside my window.
Thank you for the ability to hear the kids’ giggles and to feel their hugs.
Thank you for books.
Thank you for music.
Thank you for hot showers and a solid roof over my head.
Thank you for delicious flavors of coffee and tea.
Thank you for bringing simple words to my heart each morning to bring into my day such as kindness, presence, and joy.
Thank you for listening to me complain and being patient with my despair and discouragement.
Thank you for being with us during 2020.
Thank you for the challenges that shape us and make us stronger. (This is one is harder to say but good to recognize)
Thank you for the good and love that sustains us during difficult time even when we don’t fully understand nor see you, Lord.
Thankfulness is the best side dish of all.
What are you thankful for this year?
P.S. Advent begins soon and you may want to check out the Advent devotional I wrote a couple of years ago – available either e-book or print on Amazon.
What a beautiful post and yes I agree with your list and adding the blessing of good Christian friends and the Word of God that comforts, corrects, instructs and loves us through all of life’s ups and downs. Four years ago on Thanksgiving Day my husband had a severe stroke which affected his speech, but I am thankful he is still withh me today, even though some days are frustrating, we are still thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so sorry to hear about your Thanksgiving four years ago and yes yes tough circumstances like that does make us grateful for what we do have! Happy Thanksgiving to you too
AMEN to every item on your list, Jean! The list of special recipes your family enjoys made me think: I’m thankful for the treasure of family recipes that conjure up memories of loved ones and holidays past. Just recently one of my cousins sent me a recipe booklet that my father (her uncle) made for our grandmother (probably in the late 30s or early 40s) based on his unmistakable handwriting. Perhaps it had been a holiday or birthday gift. In it he had copied a number of recipes from family and friends, albeit most include no instructions, time to cook or bake, oven temp, etc–just a list of ingredients and how much to use! Nonetheless it’s a wonderful keepsake to pass along to one of our granddaughters someday. Best of all, included are recipes from my great-grandmothers–our granddaughters’ great-great-grandmothers! (My cousin’s mother, the oldest of Grandma Rachel’s children, must have had the booklet in her possession, and my cousin after her. It was such a thoughtful gesture for her to send it to me–I didn’t even know it existed!) P.S. I’ve ordered Christmas Crossroads–looking forward to spending Advent with you, Jean! 🙂
Thank you dear Nancy for ordering my book. May its words bless you. Love the family recipe treasure you found. What a gift. and in handwriting too. wow.
Im grateful that our Hero and Champion had guts enough to follow thru and die in place of me for my sin….that He knocks on my door and i can let Him in for Thanksgiving dinner…
May you all have the most blessed thanksgiving…..
Amen and amen!
Amen. I want to serve a grateful heart right up to the Lord … may it be my main course!
Thanksgiving blessings to you, friend …
Love that you played with the words to make it your main course. Love this
I just posted about what I’m thankful for in my blog today, Jean – what a coincidence! 🙂 Yes, our blessings are too many to count, even in this year of despair and disruption. May we all remember that being thankful is the best side dish of all!
We are thinking alike this week, Martha. yes may we always be thankful, especially for friends across the miles like you!