HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I trust everyone is drawing close to family and loved ones today to share a meal and reflect on all the things we’re thankful for. In fact, everyday in a Believer’s life is a day when our hearts are filled with thankful gratitude knowing we have a loving Heavenly Father who tenderly cares for us and meets our every need.
Although I can’t be with my family in Texas today we’ll all find a moment to call each other so we can share life, laughter and memories. . . and one thing I’ve discovered in life is just how important remembering the memories can be.
As a society we’ve lost the art of passing down family history and telling stories around the dinner table. My 84 year old father sent an email to his girls a few days ago reminding us of how our mother would always use this holiday to share the story of Squanto God’s Special Indian to her students and to her girls. Her students would get to hear about her faith in Jesus Christ (this was when you could speak of Him in public schools) and she would retell the story Squanto and remind us of God’s providence in establishing America!
I always think back on the different Thanksgivings I’ve experienced in my life. I have fun memories of celebrating in South Africa when I lived there as a Missionary. I would remind my children of their rich heritage as Christians, then family heritage and then their American heritage. Living in another country away from family and the freedoms of our country… it always made Thanksgiving seem even more special!
I think my favorite Thanksgiving memory was the most simple and nontraditional; but it’s the one I always remember with fondness! I think it must have been around 1968. My Mom and Dad had just built a brand new home custom home. The move in day was Thanksgiving Day so everything was still in boxes. We set up a card table to eat at and made a pot of chili. I remember being especially thankful because I finally had my own room.
The Point? Make some memorable memories today! Remember, it’s the simple things that we remember and that usually matter the most. Retell, the old memories that carry the power of identity with them; and that renew a joy, laughter and an inner strength when remembered.
And don’t forget to pass down to our children the stories of God’s providence over American and how He used a American Indian named Squanto to save the lives of the first American settlers. . . We can no longer depend on our schools to teach them the things that matter. We have the joy of telling! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The Story of Squanto ~ http://www.joyfulheart.com/thanksgiving/squanto.htm
