Tag: Thanksgiving

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Being Thankful Even When It Doesn’t Feel Right

“For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”   Lamentation 3:31, ESV

I watched him as he walked past the parents lined up on the fence, head down, helmet on, with a quickened pace as he came off the field and walked to the car for the long ride home. Two hours earlier, my son talked my ear off about the second-round playoff game he was about to play. His team was coming off a big win in the opening week of their junior league playoffs. Sadly, the scoreboard eroded the enjoyment and excitement of his first playoff victory by the end of week two. He didn’t want a snack at the end of the game or a hug from his Mom. He kept his helmet on, so no one could see the heartbreak that leaked from his eyes. He loved football and the opportunity to play a sport he loved. But, it just didn’t feel right to be thankful for the game after experiencing a loss.

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Finding the “thanks” in Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day has long been a day of reflection, celebration, family, and traditions in America. I have fond memories from my childhood of my Mom cooking a wide assortment of pies accompanied by pans of dressing, bowls of potatoes, and other family dishes, which only made their way to the table once a year. I can still see my Mom making her famous chicken and dumplings as my father, brother, and I prepared ourselves for a day filled with feasting and football.

My experience changed slightly when I moved an hour and a half away from home to attend college. Thanksgiving began to be marked by the end of the semester and the beginning of studying for finals. Those days included a short trip down I-40, leaving the college world behind and journeying to the world and home, which molded my childhood.

Now, this day is marked by creating that same type of home for my children. My wife and I do not live with family nearby, so many of our Thanksgiving Day meals have been spent with people from our faith family. We have been blessed to gather around a table or a living room, enjoying the company of others.

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