Welcome to the week of Thanksgiving. Grocery stores are filled with towering displays of fried onion rings (to top green bean casserole), canned yams, mini marshmallows, and canned pumpkin to make pies. Most people have already purchased their turkeys and are busily working in their kitchen to get the prep work done for the big meal. Others might be considering heading to a restaurant that does all the work for you. Whatever you are choosing to do this coming Thursday, I trust that it will be yummy.
But, even though we are just at the week of Thanksgiving, stores are already playing songs about snowmen and new years plans. There are displays of brightly lit Christmas trees and santa’s laps that are just begging for little ones to climb on.
In my extended family, Thanksgiving has been the time we have plotted to eat together – rather than Christmas. We would usually head across the field to my grandparent’s home, stand in line to dig into the big dishes filled with southern goodness: my Granny’s dressing, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, brown and serve rolls, collards, pecan pie, and of course turkey. Oh, and one of my favorites: pea salad.
This year for us it will be different then in year’s past. We won’t be with extended family, I won’t be cooking a huge turkey and 16 side dishes and 9 desserts. I’m running a half marathon in the morning, then the 4 of us are going to spend the day together and eat TBLT’s (thick cut turkey from the deli BLT sandwiches), cook frozen green bean casserole, and enjoy a pie (because my mister requested it). I am looking forward to a low-key with just my little family.
If you are still planning your Thanksgiving Day menu, here are some of my favorite recipes: Pumpkin Trifle, Black Pepper Biscuits, and for breakfast these.
Everywhere that people gather together to share turkey and pie, and eat way too much, and watch football, then go eat some more – most say some form of thanks or share a list of things they are grateful for.
May we who know Christ, who have been saved by the Father through the Son – the Father’s indescribable gift – may we offer gratitude and thanks to the one to whom all thanks is due. This is something my husband and I are trying to teach our boys: giving thanks to God for all things – even our toys that were given by grandparents – ultimately came from God.
So, as we undoubtedly will pack our holiday schedules and cram our tummies full of delicious food – let us prepare (even now) to leave room in our lives and hearts to exclaim gratitude to Jesus.
Happy Thanksgiving Y’all!