Thanksgiving
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Some of my favorite memories are of Thanksgiving dinners with my family - first sitting with my sister and brother at the kids’ table, then at the adults’ table. Each meal was always abundant and delicious - turkey with dressing and gravy, ham, green beans... my mouth waters just thinking about it! But the highlight of Thanksgiving was not the food, or the televised football games, or the fun of watching the parade on TV. The highlight was always the fellowship around the dining room table. Stories and memories were shared, with both laughter and even a few tears. We celebrated being together and expressed love for those who were not there. As we sipped our hot chocolate or coffee and gorged on one last piece of pie, no one was in a hurry to leave the table and we shared what we were most thankful for.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving today, I pray you have many things for which to be thankful. If you are with family and friends, may your heart be full of gratitude. If you are working may you know that you are a blessing to others. If you are away from home may you have phone calls, Face Time and emails to connect you to loved ones. If you are missing someone who is now in heaven may the comfort and presence of the Lord be with you.
One day, in Our Father's House, the table will be set and the meal will be ready. One day you and I and all of God's children will be seated around that table. One day He will gather us to Himself, listening intently and lovingly as we share our love for each other and our love for Him. One day we will share in a thanksgiving feast that will never end.
Thank You God for the blessings of the past, our celebration today and our certain hope of the eternal feast that will never end, through Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.