Thanksgiving 2012

It was Thanksgiving Day 1976. Two of my roommates and I were sitting around in our living room discussing what we would do and eat for the day. Most of our friends had cleared the campus, leaving it as a ghost town, and then jetted out of town to be with their families for the holidays. We wished we could do the same, but our families lived half way across the country in California, plus we didn’t have the resources to make the trip anyway.

Meanwhile, we racked our brains for options, but it became more and more apparent that we would be stuck in our apartment all by our lonesome selves for Thanksgiving Day. It wasn’t that we didn’t like each other or that we had any real challenges hanging out together, it was simply that we were desperately missing our families. The more we talked about it the more dejected we became. Besides, we weren’t accustomed to fixing holiday meals. In those days as athletes, we had meal cards. Most of our meals were provided by the school cafeteria. The closest I ever got to cooking up a meal was heating up a can of chicken noodle soup.

Suddenly, there was a knock on our door. For a moment, we all curiously looked at each other and wondered who it could possibly be. I quickly jumped off the couch onto my feet and opened the door. Before I could say a word, unexpected friends with multiple food trays in hand, charged into our small kitchen, and for the next few minutes unloaded from their car a complete home cooked Thanksgiving meal for us! I couldn’t believe it! One minute we were sulking the next we had room service! Wow, what an amazing act of kindness!

They told us later that they had found out that we weren’t going to be with our families so they decided to bring family to us! They too had made plans to leave town, but decided to stick around long enough to cook us up a meal first then head out to be with their loved ones! They quickly dropped off the meal, wished us Happy Thanksgiving and left. We were stunned! As they ran out the door, we thanked them for everything and promised to wash their dishes before we returned them. We ate like kings that day and discussed how thoughtful, sacrificial and kind they were to remember us. It was one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day and meal I’ve ever had!

I’m thankful because God is so good! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1) Good then, now and forever! Good all the time!

I’m thankful because He knows me! He knows me in detail and knows my every need. “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” (Mathew 6:8) All my needs are met in Him! He supplies for my needs, I must choose to be content.

I’m thankful because His peace guards my heart! “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything…..If you do this, you will experience God’s peace….His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) When I fail to trust Him my heart can become anxious. I rest in His peace!

And yes, I’m thankful for freedom and for those who shed their blood to secure it. I’m thankful for family and friends, for without them, it would be a lonely existence. I’m thankful for good health, mobility and the ability to breathe, think, dream, pray and sing. I’m thankful for His bountiful provision and all the benefits of like that I enjoy.

Last but not least I’m thankful for salvation, grace, faith, forgiveness, eternal security, wisdom, purpose and unspeakable joy for without these all else would simply be boring rubbish! Thanksgiving is about selflessness, helping and caring for each other, remembering and sharing with others who are hurting and suffering and doing what we can to make a difference in the name of Christ. 

May the God of love and peace fill your hearts, today and always, as you contemplate, celebrate and share His goodness with a thankful heart.