What are you doing on the computer, instead of spending time with your family? OK, perhaps like here, the guys are “bonding” in a quick round of golf and the kids are getting ready to go to Grandmas, so you’re just sneaking in a few moments.
I just wanted to send a quick note to encourage you all to, if you haven’t yet, spend a few minutes relating the Story of Thanksgiving to your children. Let them know this isn’t just turkey and football day. It isn’t a day of gorging themselves, or even just a day to be with relatives. It is a day set apart for expressing our thankfulness to God.
Tell them how the Pilgrims sought religious freedom to not only worship God as set forth in His Word, but to raise their children in an environment conducive to them developing their own rightful walk with the Lord – we must take a stand to follow God no matter where it leads and we must take our children there with us. How many lost their lives, but not their souls, in taking the risk to be trailblazers for those to come after (half of the people on the Mayflower died that first winter) – sometimes the costs are high to be the first one to do what is right, but someone must step out. How God’s provision came from the help of one “outside” (Squanto) – we can’t remain in the huddle of “us 4 and no more”; we must reach out to the world, to those different than us; perhaps God will use them as instrumental in our blessing. How they were thankful in lack as well as in plenty – whether we are abased or abound, God is there and to be praised. How in their preparations of their Feast, their own efforts proved “inadequate” (although God had brought a great harvest, their Feast would not provide for all the extra people that came,) but – God provides above and beyond what we can see, think, or even dream of. We must never trust in our own efforts but always trust in the One who alone is Trustworthy and Faithful.
Tell your children of a country founded on the belief and faith in Yahweh God the Creator and Redeemer, a country fought for and forged on those beliefs. Tell them how it was a President 240-some years later who proclaimed this memorial Feast day begun by those Pilgrims as a National annual Holiday. Tell them how we are Pilgrims sent by God to uphold His truth in this land that has largely forsaken Him.
Above all tell them to give thanks to the Lord for He is good. No matter what they feel they lack, they have so much to be thankful for. Give them each 5 kernals of corn, the daily provisions of the Pilgrims before that harvest came in, and tell them to “Count their blessings, name them one by one. Count their many blessings, see what God has done.” Give thanks to the Lord who satisfies your mouth with good things, as you enjoy the abundance He has provided for you today.
Give thanks to the Lord for the ability to educate our children at home without having to disobey man in order to obey God. Give thanks to our Lord for your husband, for each and every child He has blessed your union with, for extended family, for spiritual family, for friends and neighbors – for relationship is everything. People are the only thing that lasts forever. Cherish each of these and let them know today that you are thankful to God for them. Most of all for Salvation from our sin through the death and resurrection of His very own Son; for Reconciling us to Himself in the most awsome Relationship for Eternity. Halalu Yah!!! Praise Him!
