Every family has their own traditions for Thanksgiving Day, their Mom's dressing, saying what each person is thankful for that particular year, their version of cranberry sauce - are you a jelly out of the can sort of family? That you lay on its side and slice?
Please tell me no. Please? So we can still be friends? This is the stuff I grew up on, and I couldn't stand it then, and I still can't stand it today. I kinda sorta gag a little bit just looking at this picture.
I'm not even a traditional cranberry sauce kind of girl. We make a cranberry, crushed pineapple and brown sugar concoction each year that I really love because it hits my sweet tooth just right with a hint of the tart that cranberries are so known for. S&A are bringing the cranberry sauce this year and I think it is just about the most perfect accompaniment to the rest of the traditional meal.
One tradition that we grew up on for Thanksgiving was to read the 103rd Psalm. For those who may not be aware, this is a passage from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, and it opens like this:
Bless the Lord, o my soul
And all that is within me bless His Holy Name
Bless the Lord, o my soul
And forget not all his benefits
My sister, J, and I can't hardly read this without our voice cracking and tears as we remember all of the times our parents (who are now both gone) read this at the Thanksgiving table. One passage in particular from this chapter of the Bible gets to me every time:
But from everlasting to everlasting
The Lord's love is with those who fear him
And his righteousness with their children's children -
With those who keep his covenant
And remember to obey his precepts.
Their children's children. I can't hear that phrase without recalling a story we heard many times as a child and growing up in my mother's family. Her great-great-I'm honestly not sure how many greats belong here-grandfather would pray for his family - that God would "bless our children's children down to the 7th generation." I doubt that he was asking God for the blessings to suddenly stop at the 7th generation. He was instead asking for his family to be blessed as long as we were propogatin' and as an example to his sons and daughters to pray likewise as an example to their sons and daughters to pray likewise and so on. And J&I, as well as our spouses and children and grandchildren are all part of that prayer...part of that tradition...part of that same family. Does that make us perfect and not the least bit dysfunctional? Wouldn't that be wonderful if that was the case? But all anyone has to do is look at my life and know that ain't so much the case.
But am I blessed?
You betcha.
Am I aware of God answering that prayer uttered over 100 years ago still today?
You betcha. Even when I was being served that yucky cranberry jelly stuff growing up.
Have a very blessed Thanksgiving! Bless each other and if you are so inclined in your exercise of the religious freedom that we enjoy in this land known as America, bless the Lord and "forget not all his benefits." Cause chances are - even if your table includes a can shaped food - you have experienced a lot of his benefits.
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