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Nov. 16—Are you taking time to present thanks for all of your blessings? Give it some thought.
Aren’t we glad that somebody had the foresight to put aside a big day to present thanks? What higher purpose to collect with family and friends than to present thanks.
The celebrations of at the moment are a far cry from the Thanksgiving feasts when our dad and mom and grandparents have been alive and all of us met collectively. All of us introduced meals, however Grandma or Mom made the dressing and cooked the turkey. We all the time served turnips to remind us of the meager occasions Grandma and Grandpa had once they first got here to Indian Territory. They lived on turnips and wild recreation, however they ate what they’d with gratitude and appreciation. Instances have modified from these early days. Now we have now a lot and a few of us nonetheless complain and whine.
All of us really feel depressed and anxious with the climate and all the issues that it’s inflicting. Everybody I do know has been affected by local weather modifications or dying of their household or shut pals. I can hardly soak up all of the unhappiness round me. I continuously pray for our nation and the a whole bunch, 1000’s of Individuals which are touched by all this. In some households it’s troublesome to seek out one thing to be grateful for. However we should be grateful for our lives and dwelling in America. By no means cease being grateful for what we have now, irrespective of how meager.
These previous few years, I had two sisters die. It would make a distinction in our celebration, however we’ll give thanks that they’re each with their Heavenly Father and we’ll meet once more. We’re not the one ones who’ve misplaced members of the family. We should go on and reward God.
Our plans this yr are that household will come to my home and I’ll get to do the dinner. My son-in-law died a couple of months in the past, so I believed they may need to spend time along with his household. They mentioned they wished to come back to my home for lunch after which go to others, which is fantastic with me. My 14-year-old grandson will make the bread (He makes yeast rolls like a 92-year-old girl who has made all of it her life.) We may have the standard turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry salad, and a number of other pies and pumpkin roll. Will probably be good to be collectively.
After I talked about to my pal, Stan, that we have been having turkey, he went proper out and acquired a 17-pound one, so in case you have no place to go, come right here. We may have lots.
What plans do you’ve got for Thanksgiving? By the point you learn this, your plans are already made. Due to climate or one thing unexpected, there’ll all the time be a couple of modifications and we have now to be ready for drop-in company or those that needed to change plans on the final minute. Regardless of who comes or what time the meal is served, it will likely be a festive event to have everybody across the desk or going by a buffet line.
In October of 2020, my great-granddaughter misplaced her father with an enormous coronary heart assault. We now have all been devastated as a result of he was solely 50 years previous and it was fully surprising. It has been very troublesome for my Landry, who had simply turned 13 that day. Even previous individuals like me discover it exhausting to absorb, however it’s equally saddening to a toddler. Anyway, on the bight facet, she is coming to spend a couple of days so we are able to discuss and pray and be buddies. Her mom mentioned that Landry simply wants “grandma time.” And I would like her, too. We discuss all the pieces and particularly now. I pray for the best solutions to her many questions. I belief God will information me to indicate His love for her.
I’m continuously grateful to God for meals, for our residence, for heat clothes, for well being, for family and friends, for freedom of faith and all the opposite freedoms we take without any consideration on this nation. Once we take a look at different international locations, we notice how very blessed we’re to have primary requirements. We simply have to depend these blessings. There are two sorts of gratitude: the sudden sort we really feel for what we have now, and the bigger sort we really feel for what we give.
We appear to suppose that the pilgrims had a wonderful feast each Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, alongside the way in which, meals grew to become scarce and meals provides received so low that every particular person acquired a ration of solely 5 kernels of corn. One yr, my fantastic college students at Hillsdale Christian College made desk favors for Grandparents’ Day in November. We tied 5 kernels of corn in little squares of internet. Then we tied on a printed card with the legend on it, and on the opposite facet of the cardboard the scholars wrote (in cursive) the scripture from Hebrews, “Be content material with what you’ve got.” It was a pleasure to make them and we knew the company (about 350 of them) received our message.
Right this moment in America, we have to take a look at what we have now and never what we do not have … and be grateful. Once we sit all the way down to our particular thanksgiving dinner, we’ll in all probability eat an excessive amount of and discuss an excessive amount of and chuckle too loud, however we are able to by no means reward an excessive amount of.
From someplace within the wrinkles of my mind comes this poem from way back. I hope I bear in mind it no less than partially right.
Thankfulness
“We thanks for all presents, pricey God, upon Thanksgiving Day.
For love and laughter and the religion that bids us kneel to hope.
For all times that lends us happiness, and sleep that provides us relaxation,
These are the presents that preserve our hearts serene inside our breast.
Love, laughter, religion and life, we cherish each one.
They carry us alongside the street till our work is completed.”
I do not intend to sound like gloom and doom with Thanksgiving subsequent week. Plainly holidays deliver quite a lot of gladness and pleasure, but in addition unhappiness and lacking those that have handed or can’t sit at our desk for feasts and enjoyable and laughter. I used to be informed after Jim died, that we grieve so deeply as a result of we beloved so deeply. I imagine that. Keep in mind the nice issues and discuss our family members with gratitude and fantastic recollections.
For Thanksgiving, I’ll present my pumpkin roll (at Jamie’s request) and my crimson salad.
Cranberry Salad
1 small package deal cherry gelatin
1 can entire cranberry sauce
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup pecan items
Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Stir in cranberry sauce. Chill till partially set. Stir in oranges and pecans. Pour into crystal bowl till fully set.
Rely your many blessings. Get pleasure from a protected vacation and the consolation of household and pals.
Ship your feedback to: Peggy Goodrich, Meals for Thought, P.O. Field 1192, Enid, OK 73702.
Goodrich writes a weekly column for the Enid Information & Eagle. Ship your feedback to: Peggy Goodrich, Meals For Thought, P.O. Field 1192, Enid, OK 73702.
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