Thanksgiving

As I write this blog I'm sure that many of my American friends and family are making their Thanksgiving Day plans. For my English family and friends, Thanksgiving is a day that is set aside (the 4th Thursday of November) to give thanks to God for the harvest, and the new land (Pilgrims). This is a day to get together with friends and family and eat lots of food: turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetables, pumpkin pie, ...and to spend some time reflecting on things that you are thankful for.

Since marrying an Englishman, and moving to London I have tried to share with him and his family some of these great American traditions. Being Christians, it has been very easy to get our family and friends to join us for a day of Thanksgiving. We have celebrated it in many ways, having to be a bit more creative with our time because unlike in the States, no one has the day off work. My children now look forward to Thanksgiving and like to have input on who we invite and also how we celebrate. We do have a few American friends over here that we sometimes celebrate with, and we were planning on doing that this year.

However, there has been a lot happening here to distract us from being thankful. My best friend has been in a psychiatric ward for the last week due to situations she got herself in because she suffers with Bi-Polar disorder. Dean's mum was taken into hospital with chest pains early Monday morning, and the doctors are running tests to see what is going on with her. Dean and I are having to sort through some circumstances within our fellowship, as well as Dean and the other elders at Twynholm working through finding a pastor to fill the vacant position. Between counselling people, hospital visits, supporting Dean's dad and Pat's elderly parents, looking after the children and the children of others, all added on to the regular things that we do, I must admit that we are feeling weary. With all this going on we decided that we couldn't possibly plan a big Thanksgiving celebration.
This morning, however, while I was cleaning the kitchen I decided to put on one of my favourite Christian radio stations from home (FL). The Joy FM. At the time they were playing a talk from Charles Stanley on 'Why it is good to give thanks.' Not really what I wanted to hear at the time, but I put it on. God is good and faithful, isn't He! He knew that I needed to be reminded to give thanks in everything! ...'It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.' Psalm 92:1&2
God is faithful, and His loving-kindness is everlasting. With all that is going on around me I have been feeling very anxious about things, and again this morning I was reminded that...'The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6&7
My prayer is now that through thanksgiving to the Lord for all that he has done for me, my heart and mind will have the understanding and peace that it needs during this time. I pray that all of you take some time and and reflect on all that you have to be thankful for. May you feel God's blessing on you even today!

PS - We have run out of Macaroni and Cheese!!!! Here's your chance to do a Random Act of Kindness!