11/26/15 – It’s Thanksgiving!
In 2000, I missed Thanksgiving. I was in Europe on a Tale of Two Cities field trip. The school vacation days made that time of year the best time for us to go. Our group had a fabulous time in London doing incredible things like seeing Big Ben and touring Buckingham Palace. After several days there, we headed to Paris. The Louvre is all it’s cracked up to be, as is the palace at Versailles, and of course, the Eiffel Tower. But even though we woke up in the city of lights, since that country did not have that holiday, Thanksgiving morning was incredibly strange. There would be no turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, monkey bread, pumpkin pie, peach cobbler, etc. No one in the whole country was doing anything differently, thinking of visiting family, or focusing especially on being thankful.
By missing Thanksgiving I realized how much the holiday meant to me. I absolutely crave spending that day with those I love the most. The smells and tastes of the day bring back the wonderful memories of Thanksgivings past with my parents, my grandmother, my siblings, and special family friends around the tables.
This year, my husband and I are blessed once again to celebrate the Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. How thankful we are to have a place to be—to be special. We’re also grateful to know that we’re special every day, not only to our people here on earth, but to God. He has called us “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (I Peter 2:9 NKJ).
Whether you are eating today at a table of one or in a group of 30 or more, smile and know that you are one of God’s special people. Be thankful for every breath, a sound mind, and a heart open to the love of God and others. Happy Thanksgiving!
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