Thanksgiving

I am between “dishes” as I prepare my Thanksgiving meal for our family today, reflecting on why and for what I am thankful.

First of all, I’m thankful for this day that gives cause to do the reflecting in the first place. I’m also thankful that again, this year, I’m able to do this for my family and friends. For the many blessings of family, I give thanks: love, caring, respect, even though we sometimes don’t agree, these disagreements give way to lively discussions and learning for all of us.

In addition to the blessings of family, friends always add much to our holiday dinner tables. We’ve always given an open invitation to friends to just drop in if they wish and they sometimes do. My meal consists of the same amount of food, no matter how many come and I’m thankful that we have always had plenty and much to spare.

On my dinner table today, I’m using many patterns from my collection of dishes, signifying the many blessings we have from our Father God. At least two of the plates have a tiny chip on them, signifying that not all our blessings come without some chipping at our hearts, souls minds or bodies.

However, on my dinner table today, I’m using matching glassware, signifying the one Holy Spirit, who is available to all who believe. As I fill our glasses, I’ll be thankful for that Holy Spirit, the comforter who is with us in all our trials, fills us and sees us through every one of them.

My napkins will be blue paper, since that’s all I have today, signifying that when all else fails, we only have Jesus, Son of God, one with God and the Spirit, to see us through. I’m thankful that this Jesus is ever beside me to hear me, and answer, though sometimes not in the ways I ask, but to calm me in my fears, doubts and frustrations.

As we finish our meal and go our separate ways, I’ll be thankful that this Jesus, even up to the Passover meal on the night He was betrayed and taken later to His death, prepared His disciples to go into the world, preach the gospel and make disciples, so that you and I and all those who believe have the promise of everlasting life with Him.

Finally, though I have only named a few of my blessings, I could never name them all for they would fill a book, I’m thankful that He gave me ears to hear and eyes to see His truth.

John 3: 16-18