The
turkey hasn't thawed.
Yep,
that giant heavy pounded, headless, completely frozen piece of
poultry still sits cold, chilled to the bone.
I
grew cold right along with it.
It
should have been thawed and ready.
To
the boys I shout, holding a 12 pound frozen lump on a tray, "It's
going to be a meatless, vegetarian style Thanksgiving!"
They
shrug their shoulders and keep right along doing what there doing,
laughing and jumping on the bed because the greatest day will come
turkey or no turkey and their little hearts believe it.
I
have the carpenter go to the garage to hunt for the cooler.
Determined
I will soak the bird and unfreeze it even if takes all night and all
morning that bird will roast come tomorrow afternoon.
The
counters are cluttered and so is the mind.
"Give
thanks," I whisper.
It's
the season and even if it wasn't and it won't be for long, but to
give thanks in "all circumstances" continuously.
"We're
not doing a turkey this year, a thanksgiving, we're just not up to
it." Others I've heard and spoken with have said it and
yes it sounds tempting as I pound the butter to flour and soak the
sweet potatoes and chase little boys and clean up spills and give
medicines.
Toss
the towel in and forget.
It
wouldn't have been so easy over three hundred years ago.
Tousled
aboard a ship, shoulder to shoulder, hungry, cold, sickly men, women
and children, traveled. They left behind what they knew for the
unknown and why?
Not
for possessions or climate or land or cattle or food but for the
Bible, a belief, and a freedom to pray.
They left it all not for something they possessed or something they saw with their physical eyes, but for something they carried within themselves.
And
when they arrived in the New World, our beautiful America, it
wasn't necessarily their things that gave them gratitude but a
presence. A Presence they could freely proclaim, a soul connection
that could be spoken and hands that could be held and lifted to the
one who Saves, to worship and praise freely.
The
most unlikely people became their allies and showed them how to grow
seed and how to survive and how to harvest and they didn't have to
give it up or through the towel in because they could speak Him and
that's all they really needed.
It
was a harvest of souls, of people.
Being
thankful, giving thanks, yes, for everything but better yet reflect
away from possessions, situations, conditions, traditions, and
connect souls and hearts to God's and just thank God for Him, because
its not about circumstances or things or the latest and greatest, but
about a King.
It's
hard to do.
A
big, blue wide eyed boy stands in front of me wondering what to give
thanks for and I gently hold his shoulders and say, "Give thanks to
God for what He has given us, Himself in us, for being with us and He
is the only thing we need. Give thanks to God for His Son, for life,
and breath, and the songs of everyday good or bad." He smiles
yes, these little ones know.
It's
not about traditions and dates and the next best thing coming up,
because He is here and there doesn't have to be that
rainbow at the end of the day or that tradition that just has to be
done or that book that has to be kept up with or that turkey that has
to be made, or that candle that has to be lit. It's okay.
In
the rush of the season it's okay, we don't have to keep up with it
all, only with Him and it doesn't take possessions but a whole
lot of soul that's free!
It
won't be missed all these traditions, He will be and we don't really
need anything physically or materially to capture Him, because it's all
soul that's inside us waiting to be uncovered.
Give
thanks for what He leaves us that which isn't seen but felt but held
inside, Himself.
Because
this is where are treasure is, in Him.
Paul, the apostle, from a jail cell, handcuffed and hungry, gave thanks to God not for anything he had, not for anything he saw, not for anything he touched or tasted, but only for who God is, "good."
Job lost everything yet he gave thanks because of who God is.
David and Daniel who were thrown in the lions pit, gave thanks and praise to God and the list continues.
So, yes, thankful for everything but
giving thanks for simply who He is and everything He
is and everything He has done and everything He has promised.
Because all that's really needed on Thanksgiving and everyday, is the gift that is Him and we carry it with us inside and it's worth these ruff, temporary seas and we're so thankful.
Happy
Thanksgiving