Happy Thanksgiving!

Praying you have a Blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends!

I hope in our gathering today to find time to share with one another what we are thankful for. Being thankful is not always easy if one is experiencing difficult times. One thing that never changes is the goodness of God though it may be hidden by clouds of our own despair. Even when our lives go through seasons of change, His goodness, love and compassion for His children who trust Him, never changes.

The First Thanksgiving

The year of 2020 has been very difficult across the entire globe and has continued through 2021. A virus was released from China that infected every nation in the world, including ours. Beginning in March the lock downs and required mask wearing was started, continued off and on, according to the guidelines of each state. It has continued to this Thanksgiving day November 26, 2020 and through 2021. Our daughter Charity invited us over and we were only allowed to have 6 people, two family groups. We had 7, yet 4 family groups. Lucky someone didn't snitch on us and we get arrested. This is what our governor Kate Brown declared. Not sure of what her mandate is for 2021. These have been very difficult times.

It is in times like this that we can remember the difficulties the Pilgrims experienced the year of the first Thanksgiving. Over half of the pilgrims died the first winter. In the spring some Indians came and taught them how to grow corn and other foods. During the summer the Pilgrims built their settlement and homes. They stored food for the coming winter. So they had a three day feast to celebrate their accomplishments with their new Native American friends. There was food and games. Here is a link to an account of the First Thanksgiving. First Thanksgiving I have not studied this nor checked it accuracy; but found this account interesting. 

November 2020, I received an email from Family Search, a genealogy research firm. A fun surprise! One of my ancestors was on the original Mayflower voyage to America in 1620. There are pictures, documents, etc, including the Mayflower passenger list and Mayflower Compact.

What are you thankful for? In our home we have a tradition of going around the table and letting each person, young and old, share with our family what they are most thankful for.

This morning, I was thanking God for each person He has placed in my family... early in life my parents and brothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles... as a young woman, my wonderful husband, then three precious daughters... later two great son in laws and to follow 6 amazing grandchildren. God has been so good to us!

So today I have a different idea.  Rather than each person sharing their own thanks, honor each person at the table, one at a time by letting all of the others give thanks for them. Be as specific to their individual character God gives insight. This could be done simply at the table or more in depth, including prayer in the living room.