Proverbs 3 and Why I Love Thanksgiving!
My alarm went off this morning and I snoozed a couple of times but I couldn’t go back to sleep. However, I wasn’t ready to tackle my day either. I was all snug as bug in a rug under my flannel sheets! I checked the forecast on my phone only to see chilly temps for the rest of the week and possible snow the latter half of the week. When the weather starts to change all I want to do is bake, and bake some more. I started thinking of all the things that were on my agenda for the day and decided baking wasn’t going to happen so I switched gears just a little and started thinking of Thanksgiving. The word “Thanksgiving” gives me warm fuzzies all over.
The most important aspect of Thanksgiving to me is reflecting on all the blessings that God has so graciously bestowed on us throughout the year. The health of our children, the warmth of our home, the provision throughout the year that he has granted us! I try to think of and be grateful for even the mundane things in my life that I probably often take for granted like running water to brush my teeth, a shovel to clear the snow from our drive to make life more convenient, sweet aromas coming from the kitchen as I cook food that is readily available to my family, soap…I know it seems really small but think about it! What if soap wasn’t easy to access? What would that really look like? I love having clean clothes, clean countertops, I love waking up in the morning and taking my warm shower and coming out squeaky clean everyday!! Even though these are things I am thankful for everyday, Thanksgiving is a time when I can be intentional about thinking back throughout the year and remembering all that God has done!
A couple of years ago I started to keep a small piece of paper in my bible. In Proverbs 3:5-6 to be exact. And on this piece of paper I write down blessings and some prayer requests that I have and I tuck them away safe in those passages that read “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.” I don’t look at the piece of paper all year until Thanksgiving! And then I open it up and read all that I wrote. Let me tell you it’s almost like unwrapping a gift. How is it like a gift you ask? It is like a gift because I can see exactly how God has answered some of those requests or how he has bestowed blessing upon blessing or how some of those requests are still unanswered. It is so good for the soul to actually see God’s hand working in my little slip of paper.
Of course, when it comes to Thanksgiving, food is always high on the list of things to be thankful for. Ahhh the food…I don’t think I have ever walked away from a Thanksgiving meal still feeling hungry! My mom always has cooked the meal for the entire family and we usually always do the traditional turkey, real mashed potatoes (that‘s super important in our family), gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and apple pie! Over the years we have tried to break out of the same old same old but the past couple of years we have all decided unanimously to stick with the traditional fixins. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
The word “family” also says Thanksgiving to me. The old phrase “there’s no place like home” rings so true and especially during the holidays. It is always so nice to go to my mom’s, eat, and then just relax. Many times the boys will watch football while the girls play board games or look through the Black Friday ads but we are all always content just to be in the same house enjoying the day off.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the atmosphere, the joy, the family, the food, and the blessings that this time of year brings!
