It's almost Thanksgiving. It may have been my dad's favorite holiday. My father, Carl, loved sharing a meal with others-especially at Thanksgiving. But, he found a way to make every day feel like Thanksgiving. He loved inviting others over for dinner to share in a meal, good conversation and sometimes a heated game of cards!
He passed on the tradition! Within the past couple of years, I purchased an unusually long table on Craig’s List. At its smallest, condensed size, the table barely fits in the dining room. I bought the table dreaming about filling it with friends and family meal after meal. And this week we are embarking on the Super “Bowl” of meals.
I will admit, preparing for Thanksgiving Day has become a month-long celebration in my home. I start inviting guests weeks in advance. And by the way, if I missed sending you an invitation, yes you are invited! Please join us! Dinner is at 6! I begin purchasing Thanksgiving dinner items consistently for weeks, trip after trip. I am intentional to take advantage of the many sales leading up to Thanksgiving. I begin setting the extended table, folding tables and dessert table days before our well anticipated gathering. In my mind, the more the merrier. I would love to share the holiday with everyone. I find myself continuing to invite friends and family up until Thanksgiving Day. I know many get stressed just hearing about the number of guests. The love of hospitality is something special I inherited from my parents. I love to host. I enjoy time with friends and family, and I get excited to serve and bless others. Something comes over me during the holidays and at gatherings, and it feels as though I am heading into the final NASCAR lap head to head with Martha Stewart. I love to create an atmosphere of honor and blessing for others.
As I have been buying the turkey(s) and preparing this week, I have been thinking about the scripture to give thanks in all circumstances. I decided to look it up in the Message translation to hear it a bit differently. 1 Thessalonians 5 says, “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”
I know this holiday season alone can help me to be thankful this time of year, but what about the rest of the year? How thankful am I in the midst of the everyday life? When the Bible says to give thanks in “ALL” circumstances, do I really do that? The answer is, no I do not. But I can work on that. I can be intentional to be more thankful. I remember my paternal grandmother, Onlee, repeatedly explaining to me, “there is always something you can be thankful for”. Looking back in the rear-view mirror of my wrinkled, 43 year old life, I am thankful for so many things: my parents, my entire family, friends at Jefferson High School, my first job at Danny’s grocery store, friends at Michigan State University, a great college education, my husband, my husband’s family, friends and co-workers at S&P in Wisconsin, my husband’s jobs and friends and co-workers, our salvation, the voice of God, our three children, friends from MOPS, the Trinity United Methodist Church family, the Lapeer Assembly of God family, the Cornerstone Church family, the Thrive Church family, the Jim Elliot Christian School community, the Front Range Christian School community, the Colorado Early Colleges community, the Oral Roberts University community, the Red Rocks family, missions trips around the world sharing the love of Christ and the people we have met along the way, Latin Equip, Missions.Me, the dream of Carl’s Kitchen, prayers, work and donations toward Carl's Kitchen, audacious dreams, answered prayers, our health, the freedom’s we have in America, pastors and mentors, scholarships, our various homes through the years, our neighbors, gatherings with friends, faith, peace, love, joy, wisdom, creativity, gifts, talents, treasures and resources and memories with so many dearly loved friends and family.
Looking through the windshield of the road ahead, I am thankful for God’s truth, guidance and leading into the unknown. I am thankful for old friends and new friends. I am thankful for the future and every day we have breath in our lungs. I am thankful for provision, I am thankful for Carl’s Kitchen and the many lives that will be touched one meal at a time and the Christian church that will be starting from this ministry. I am thankful that every week can be Thanksgiving at Carl’s Kitchen, just like it was in our home growing up.
Happy Thanksgiving to you! We are so thankful for you.
Melissa
If you are interested in supporting Carl’s Kitchen in honor of Thanksgiving this week to help create Thanksgiving meals every week in Callao, Peru, please donate today at:
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