William Shakespeare: “O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.”

While it doesn't really feel much like the holiday season, nonetheless, the calendar reports we are right dab on top of the start-up of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hello and welcome to Thursday's edition and this one gets tagged with November 19, 2020. I've been watching a number of sermons to prepare myself to be reminded of what it means to have a thankful heart and an attitude of gratitude. I've watched Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor Allistair Begg, Pastor Matt Chandler, and a few others. Great preachers and great sermons. It has helped to remind me of the reasons we have to live with a spirit of thanksgiving, however, that holiday excitement and anticipation, well, during these times, that's not been forthcoming. We see quite a number of our friends who have already decorated for the Christmas season. Some have even put up their outdoor decorations. They too are seeking to not only change the subject during this pandemic but, they are also seeking to find that feeling associated with the holiday spirit that is so special to us all. 

With Thanksgiving Day coming up next week, I went back and looked at my first blog written on the subject from 2007. It reflects that feeling I've talked about today.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2007

Everything We Hoped For!

Our family gathering yesterday was nothing short of being a memorable blessing. God is good all the time, all the time, God is good! We certainly experienced His provision yesterday as we all gathered to celebrate family, food, and fellowship. I know as we write about things we might be inclined to embellish and make it better than it really is, but yesterday was one where we needed no editing because everyone was in good spirits and we had a most wonderful day! Here's a blast from the past when we were visiting family over in Louisiana many years ago. I'm holding our youngest son Rodney who has a boy, our Brady or Bray-Bray, who's about a year younger than he was at the time this photo was made.

Yesterday the kids were good and while they were rowdy at times, no one banged heads or got out of sorts. We enjoyed talking, snacking, talking, and then talking some more. The Packers were playing the Lions in the background but the love and appreciation was the main topic as we celebrated all that God has given to us as people blessed to live in this great nation. When it came time for our prayer I had to fight back the tears as I thought upon the blessings God had granted to us even at that very time in being able to meet together in harmony as a family and to have the feast that was set before us.

Yesterday was one of those days that will always stand out as a great source of our being thankful and it was also a time for us to remember the many 'yesterdays' from our past. Throughout the day my wife and I made contact with most of our extended families to wish them a happy Thanksgiving Day. A big thank you goes out to our eldest son, Chris, and his wife Sherrie, for opening their home and being such gracious hosts. Previously, we had more or less established a tradition of meeting in our youngest son's home for this great time together but since it was our Stef's birthday, we switched locations. New location, same great time of being together. We are blessed.

For those who think all this kind of stuff is corny and mostly nostalgic foolishness, well, you would have had to have been there to see how absurd these kinds of thoughts are. What a treasure and what a Great God we know and serve. Again, God is good all the time, all the time, God is good! Yes, we are so very thankful. Amen. ....More later.