Thanksgiving

My Favorite Holiday

a painting by Norman Rockwell that just bursts with joy, happiness, and love of family - it was reproduced on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, I think around 1930

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s the least commercialized. It’s a good family time and the idea of being thankful is good for the soul. For me, and hopefully for most of you, it’s a time of many fond memories.

As a boy in upstate N.Y. I used to get together with my small town friends after the delicious meal that my mom and dad had put together. We would play a little football, or, some years, the ice on the pond close to our house would already be strong enough to play hockey.

Today, some 70 years later, I grow more appreciative and thankful every day. There are so many things to be thankful for.

But what about those days when things don’t seem to be going well? That’s when we are put to the test, and we can even be thankful for that - because that’s when we grow the most - the result of trials is endurance and stronger character.

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1 :2-4

or as Johnson Oatman put it, “when upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one…”

written by Johnson Oatman, Jr in 1897. He wrote 5,000 hymns!

one more thought - if we faith and respond to God’s calling, everything will work out for the good…

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!