grace & gratitude

~ T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G ~

My mother has instilled in me a particular love for this holiday. It happens to be her favourite, and one that she always enjoys putting extra time into preparing for. With her decorative genius she tastefully embellishes our home with little autumn displays of pumpkins and gourds, specially selected leaves, and candles. Festive napkins appear on the table, richly coloured wines accompany our thanksgiving dinner, and leaf-shaped place matts add to the festive setting. She puts extra time into making each dish especially appetizing in appearance, cutting pretty shapes into the pie crusts, and using pretty bowls and platters to serve the main dishes. Her preparations are made with love, attention to detail, and a quiet satisfaction in creating a warm and elegant atmosphere for the enjoyment of everyone around her.

This has been an unusual Thanksgiving. For the third year in a row, I have been away from my family for this favourite holiday. Even at a distance, I vicariously enjoy the noisome, hearty family gatherings characterized by laughter, affection, warmth, delicious smells and all the little ones bustling around at our feet, bringing an extra touch of humour to the atmosphere of love, sharing, and gratitude. I can picture the traditional foods that taunt our senses with their alluring aromas. The gentle reflective attitudes of friends and family as we  take time to acknowledge all of our abundant blessings, and to give thanks and glory to the One from whom all good things have come.

Though still marked by some of these sentimental features, mine has been an especially introspective thanksgiving. Along with dearly missing my family, I have remembered the recent passing of a friend who would have celebrated his twentieth birthday on October 12th. I have processed some deep emotions and pain of my own that are quite fresh in my past. After what seems like a long period of putting intercession on the back burner, I have been reminded again of the need to pray for the needs and struggles and cares of my family in Christ. This is a practice that, once neglected, is difficult to pick up again. But oh! how life-giving to pour prayerfully into the lives of others! And I regretfully admit that it is not something I do often enough. And although it’s fruits are more abundant that I myself can harvest, I still have the privilege of receiving from them; relief from being too focused on me — and yes, to be self-absorbed is exhausting — a greater focus on my Lord, a deeper gratitude for His grace, the working of His love in me for others, and the peace and quiet joy that comes from just being with Him and pursuing oneness with Him.

In all trials, whether exterior and circumstantial or interior workings of the heart, the grace of God through Jesus Christ is a most wondrous gift.
For this I am thankful.