Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day! The weekend of this celebration is here. It is hard to define what a normal Thanksgiving Day experience will be, or is. For many, it will include a meal that is prepared for those of the family that have joined. Just as difficult as it is to describe the normal Thanksgiving, it is just as difficult to describe those of the family.
For individuals who have lost their remaining loved one a singular season can only be filled with the memories of what you have spent building a life of experiences, places, things, and people. This does bring comfort during a time of loneliness, but yet still not filling the empty inside experience. Some on this Thanksgiving will be thinking of those that cannot be home, yet wish they were. Possibly children who are away in service to our Country how are missed by their parents, or even children missing the absence of a parent who has responded to defend freedom. Individuals are everywhere on this day. Some are in the hospital recovery from surgery, some are driving on highways because of deliveries that must make a docks call on Saturday.
Family is defined by most in America as a husband, wife and children. While this is a good definition, any couple that has planned, worked and prayed for children who has never had the experience of what The Bible says is a “Blessing of the Lord”, in my book this too is a family. Two individuals do make a family, but this is not as widely held or appreciated. For unmarried folks, some who have left their growing up community to move as a result of employment can find themselves without the comforts of their own family, and they create a new family setting, that includes a friend or two, maybe a co-worker and this is a new family to those on this day.
One goal that can be accomplished no matter the status of family, or the location of your disposition. We can find it a most appropriate time and place to say thanks. Thanks begins with remember what has entered our lives and touched our heart strings with meaning and purpose. With no employment, no insurance, and difficult times, one can still find great thanks to express. With loss of friends or acquaintances whose paths we’ve crossed, even still, there are many thanks to be expressed.
The task may involve writing things down, making a list for review, or looking at pictures or videos to remind and refresh our mind of memories. Family and friends, school mates and people who were there in days past that we had totally forgotten about, until the gentle reminder of a time well cherished.
Helen S. Rice said that she didn’t believe in “Happen Stance”, that being just the luck of the moment or a great draw. Rather, she believed that God could take any experience, any situation, and any condition and work it to a benefit if we would love Him and seek His face. When it comes to seconding a motion or agreeing with a position, I will raise my hand in support that God has a plan. Sometimes we don’t know it, sometimes in the midst of it we cannot understand how, but in ourselves we must find the faith to press on, keep believing and holding firmly to His hand.

Until then