Giving Thanks to Whom...

Today is Thanksgiving, and many Americans forget to be thankful. Instead, it is a day of football and rest in preparation for a big shopping day (or couple of days). For those who remember to be thankful, to whom do they express their thanks? Some express thanks to friends, some express thanks to family, and some express thanks to anyone who is listening. But really, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to God, the God of Abraham...the God of David...the God of George Washington...the God of Abraham Lincoln...the God of the PILGRIMS.

This was my pet turkey, Peeper. I hatched him, and raised him. My family never ate him for Thanksgiving, and he recently died at the ripe age of 10.

Here is a brief (relatively true) story :

The first winter the pilgrims spent in America was very cold. Some days, all they had was enough for each person to have only five kernels of corn.
When spring came, the pilgrims planted their corn and it grew so they had a lot of food the next year. From then on at Thanksgiving, the pilgrims each kept five kernels of corn at their plates to remind them of God's provision.

Peeper can count his kernels. You can watch Peeper eat by clicking here.

1. The first kernel reminds us that God loves us.
2. The second kernel reminds us that God provides for all our needs.
3. The third kernel reminds us of the friends God has given us.
4. The fourth kernel reminds us of all the people God has given us who love us.
5. And the fifth kernel reminds us that God hears our prayers and answers us.

Let's pray. God, thank you for providing for all our needs and for loving us. We love you. Amen.

Here is a longer story about Thanksgiving.

I love my Tom!

Now, here is a sermon regarding giving thanks as a Christian. But first, read this:

 One afternoon a shopper at the local mall felt the need
 for a coffee break.  She bought herself a little bag of
 cookies and put them in her shopping bag.  She then got in
 line for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the
 crowded tables, and then taking the lid off her coffee and
 taking out a magazine she began to sip her coffee and
 read.  Across the table from her a man sat reading a
 newspaper.
 After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie. 
 As she did, the man seated across the table reached out
 and took one too.  This put her off, but she did not say
 anything.
 A few moments later she took another cookie.  Once again
 the man did so too.  Now she was getting a bit upset, but
 still she did not say anything.
 After having a couple of sips of coffee she once again
 took another cookie.  So did the man.  She was really
 upset by this - especially since now only one cookie was
 left.  Apparently the man also realized that only one
 cookie was left.  Before she could say anything he took
 it, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded
 to eat the other half himself.  Then he smiled at her and,
 putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off.
 She steamed.  Her coffee break ruined, already
 thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her
 family, she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag,
 and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies. 

This year, I give thanks to God for my Faith, Family, Friends, Food, Fun...

...and especially for my FIANCE. 

I love you Thomas! 

I miss you, Peeper! Thanksgiving will never be the same. After all, you were my Tom Turkey. :-)