Memories and Wishes for a Wonderful Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a day set aside to be thankful
I grew up in Wisconsin. At Thanksgiving, churches happily decorated the altar with large pumpkins and colorful gourds. Corn stalks, a bale or two of hay, and colorful leaves reminded us of God’s faithfulness.
The hard work of the harvest was finished. The cold days of winter were upon us and we were truly grateful. Each family brought tomatoes or beans, carrots or corn, apples or pumpkins, and fresh canned veggies. Baskets overflowed with goodies to share with those struggling.
Over time, as fewer people had gardens, tin cans of food and bags of sugar and flour replaced the fresh veggies.
If you are from the U.K., you may remember celebrating Harvest Festival. Again, churches demonstrated gratitude for the in-gathering of fruit and veggies.
In Israel, the Lord instructed His people to celebrate Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles. The harvest was safely gathered in and it was time to give thanks. Jesus celebrated Sukkot, thanking God for His faithful provision.
Remember Past Joys
The Lord is good. His mercies are new every morning.
You may say you’re alone; one you love is no longer with you. Yet, it is healthy to give thanks to the Lord.
It is also healthy to take time to relax and remember the joys you shared with those you love. It is good to celebrate the faithfulness of the Lord who loves you.
Make New Memories
Perhaps you are hurting. Thanksgiving is connected to hurtful memories from the past. Today, you can begin again.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to make new memories. Yesterday, I was speaking with a sweet young lady who loves Thanksgiving. She smiled and said, “Yes, I call all my friends and we get together and enjoy each other’s company.”
Take time to go around the dinner table and let each person share what they are grateful for. That’s a precious time to listen to what each has learned or gained during the year – often in spite of adversity.
Dear Heart,
I pray you and yours have a thankful Thursday, thanking the Lord for His faithful love.
You may be all alone. Please do something special for yourself. Then take time to be thankful.
For instance, call someone up and chat. Invite someone who will be all alone, to join you for a cup of coffee and piece of pie. And celebrate!
In conclusion, remember Jesus is the Guest at table with you. Share with Him what you are grateful for.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I really appreciate this Thanksgiving post. Growing up, Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays to celebrate because all of my family got together, often going from one house to the next in big groups so we could visit everyone. To me it always represented a time of deep connections, gratitude, and the beginning of a new season.
Today I felt discouraged as I spoke to a friend who wasn’t excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving. I asked why and they said they hated the history of it. For a moment it felt almost incomprehensible that someone didn’t have the same fond memories of this holiday as I do, that they weren’t thinking of time spent with their family and friends.
Thanksgiving is bittersweet to me now as well, though for different reasons. I live far away from the people I once spent the holidays with and many of my closest relatives that I associate with the holiday have passed away. But the memories still bring joy to my heart and I feel especially grateful when I celebrate Thanksgiving that I have these memories in my spirit. It’s one more thing to be grateful for!
Thank you so much for sharing your Thanksgiving memories! ♥
Thank you, Rad for your kind words and your sweet openness. It blessed my heart.
Yes, the holidays are linked with a lot of emotions. I am sorry your friend can’t share your joy; that is very painful.
A dear friend recently wrote to share about the sense of isolation, abuse, and betrayal the holidays brought for many. Memories are powerful. Negative memories rob us of our joy today, unless we counter with thanksgiving for the present moment. Isn’t it wonderful the Lord understands our pain and loneliness?!
Your attitude of remembering with gratitude is scriptural. The Lord repeatedly encouraged Israel to remember and in their remembering to give thanks for His faithful demonstration of love. Thanksgiving helps set us free from the past and empowers us to receive the blessings of today.
I am glad you are able to separate the sadness and the loss from the sweetness of memories the Lord has given you. That is a precious gift. Press on my dear, in taking authority to choose the memories you walk with. That is very wise and results in fresh blessings.
May the Holy Spirit continue to comfort your heart and enable you to give thanks – no matter the darkness of the night you may experience. May He give you new friends who long for the connection that comes from a thankful heart.
Oh! The Festival of Lights begins the end of this week. May the light of Jesus fill you and overflow onto others as you make thanksgiving a priority in your life.
Thank you very much for the reply! I’m looking forward to the Festival of Lights and the reflection and re-dedication it brings. I look forward to seeing your post concerning this festival as well. ♥
You are welcome, Rad!
It is interesting; I had already decided to write about the Festival of Lights, so thanks for your encouragement. It will be shorter than my regular posts but hope you enjoy. Blessings!