Thanksgiving

While driving somewhere sometime last week, I listened to a christian radio station, 99.5 (KKLA). The guest speaker was an older christian woman. She shared about her family tradition during Thanksgiving. I think they were promoting a book about the Pilgrims. She said they read the book every year, as she did while her children were growing up. She and her husband did this so her children and her family could appreciate the luxuries they enjoy today (CAN we say "REFRIGERATION"!) or (CARS that have 4-8 horse power engines). Okay...here's a brief tangent....6 horse power. That's six (6) horses people. I'm sure we aren't comparing it to ponies or aged and lame horses either. One horse is amazing, then you multiply it by six and you get us driving on the freeway for seriously long distances!!! So if you wake up totally ungrateful or believing there is NOTHING good in your life...think about horses. So back to Thanksgiving and the lady I was talking about.....she asked her children to write what they were thankful for on a piece of paper. They did this every year while her children still lived under her roof. I was touched! It reminded me of my first Thanksgiving after turning to God. I had so much in my heart and could not let the opportunity to share God and encourage my family to share something they were grateful for at the table. (not our family tradition - eating was and lots of that). It did, however, become something we did every year and that I will do until I die (as long as I can write or talk or communicate). God instructs through the apostles to pray without ceasing with thanksgiving, to thank God daily in all circumstances....so why not at this holiday do the same aloud. It's a perfect opportunity to do with believers and unbelievers alike, because we all have gratitude for something. Atheists thank people. Paul encourages to "not grow weary doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest of righteousness" (in his letter to the Galatians). Well...the woman's husband got to share a letter from the older son to the younger son, who are young adults now. The older son told his brother all the things he admired and appreciated about him and how he often thanked God for him. He told him that God taught him so much about compassion through him. His brother has M.S. I nearly cried. But see...that is the fruit of their parents training. So this year at Thanksgiving - tell people what you appreciate about them and thank God for them. Share your gratitude aloud. You will smile at some point, which feels much better than a food coma (any day). :)