Thoughts On Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I can’t help but get sentimental about a holiday where everyone sits at the table and share a meal though my family practically does this every single day sans the turkey, but Thanksgiving is one celebrated especially with extended family & friends and in movies, it seems the more drama, the merrier. My family thinks differently (and I’m sure most Christian families think the same); the less drama the better – Amen?

One Thanksgiving was especially memorable for me. It was the time when I told my mother I was no longer Catholic. I remember my sister gasping. Since her husband is a Baptist, it was no news for him. Funny I can’t even remember my mother’s reaction. I know deep down I made her sad. It didn’t get ugly as she is a very composed woman and she has long since come to terms with my revelation. As a matter of fact, she started to notice her little black sheep had a little transformation.

My husband is an only child and his mother passed on. He has relatives but we never spend Thanksgiving with them. My mother came to visit us for Thanksgiving a couple of times but this year, she happens to be oceans away. All of my 3 siblings live thousands of miles away but when one of my sisters lived in NC, we went to visit her family. She moved further north so my family spends Thanksgiving with none other than our very own party of four with the turkey which also serves as the day after’s lunch or dinner. I pick all the leftovers from the bone and add vinegar, soy sauce, spices and sauté it in Olive oil and stuff it into a burrito wrap. I used to bake 20 pounders but last year, I picked one much smaller which only required 4.5 hours of roasting time and I believe I will do the same this year.

On a more serious note, I remember an incident from 5 years ago about a mother who sent her 3 children off with her ex-husband for Thanksgiving but the small plane the dad was maneuvering crashed. Little did she know that was going to be the last time she would see her children. She will have Thanksgiving to remember as the holiday when her children went to be with the Lord.

Do you have any unresolved grievance with a family member? Make it right with that loved one so that when you do something for God, your offering to Him may not be hindered.

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.“

Matthew 5:23-24

Let this Thanksgiving be an expression of gratitude to the Lord for His redemptive work and all the blessings His infinite mercy has bestowed on us by making sure we are right with Him and also with those whom He has placed in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and to those who are traveling, Safe Travels.