Today is Thanksgiving.
One of my favorite holidays, along with Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and the very important–my birthday! (As a sidenote– if I didn’t have a birthday I wouldn’t be here to give thanks nor would you be reading these words–pretty profound huh?)
All kidding aside, sitting in my chair early this morning, I’m struck with a Charles Dickens moment from his book “A Christmas Carol” except centered around Thanksgiving.
I’ve had a chance to reflect on Thanksgivings past, live in the moment of Thanksgiving in the present and to dream of Thanksgivings in the future.
Growing up, my mom’s favorite holiday was Christmas without a doubt but Thanksgiving was definitely not far behind.
Me?
I liked ANY holiday that would get me out of school.
Now normally, mom was a very good cook but she did struggle with a couple of dishes. One was turkey and the second, chocolate pies.
Her dream was to create that Norman Rockwell type Thanksgiving dinner. You know the one, where the mother is shown carrying the turkey, all nice and brown to the table with her family “oohing and aahing” at this wonderful artistic creation.
Well she did carry a turkey to the table. It didn’t look like the picture that’s for sure, it was a little more”jaundice” than brown. Please don’t misunderstand–it tasted very good–but it never quite made it to “picture book” status!
Her pies, well let me just say, she could bake a mean pecan pie!
She FINALLY gave up on any pie that required merengue.
Which leads me to Thanksgiving present.
This Thanksgiving holiday will be extremely special.
Not only will I get to spend it with my sister and brother-in-law whom I haven’t seen in 4 1/2 years, it marks the last holiday we’ll spend with my daughter as an “Allison”. In two days, she’ll be married and from here on out; will be “Mrs. Clark”.
We’re very excited about the wedding and are thrilled our family keeps growing.
Which brings me to Thanksgiving future.
Thanksgiving future will be filled with more additions such as a future to-be-named later daughter-in-law to a passel of grandkids (of which my wife and I will be the “coolest” grandparents ever) and maybe even a national football championship or two for my alma mater, Oklahoma State University (it doesn’t hurt to dream does it?).
This Thanksgiving, has reminded me to be very thankful for Thanksgivings past, the one today as well as being thankful for those in the future!
As our youth pastor said Sunday, it’s not Thanksgiving–it’s ThanksLIVING–we should live each day with an attitude of THANKS!
Happy ThanksLIVING!
“It’s the Journey”
