Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. ~Catherine Pulsifier
We had an early Thanksgiving dinner at our church today. We’ve been having this special time together as a church family for many years. My mother used to like to go with me to these special dinners. We used to have them in the evening, but many of our members now live a good drive from the church and some don’t like to drive after dark. So, we changed it to middle of the day after the morning service. Makes things a little harder when you are one of the volunteers to supply the turkey and fixings. But I got it done and was even almost on time to Sunday school. I did cook the turkey on Saturday which made it not fresh out of the oven but it must have been okay. It got eaten along with the old fashioned cornbread and biscuit dressing I made.
Back at those early dinners, we would make a cirle and each of us would name something for which we were thankful. I loved that because I got to hear the hearts of my church family. We had too many in attendance today to do that. Actually, we do have a praise and thanksgiving time every Sunday when we mention things we are especially thankful for each week. Maybe we will have an extra time for that next Sunday as we get closer to Thanksgiving week.
Anyway, remembering how we used to name our blessings has me thinking about some of my everyday blessings now. I am blessed in so many ways with my husband, children, grandchildren and all my family. I had a good mother and father. I feel blessed that I grew up on a farm and learned about working. I am still blessed to live on a farm where I can walk out in the fields and woods and be treated to the wonders of nature. It is a blessing to be able to take pictures of those wonders with abandon now that I have a phone in my pocket that doesn’t mind me storing a few thousand pictures in it or out there on the Cloud.
But here are a few more reasons I have for thanksgiving. I’m thankful each morning when the sun slides up over the horizon and shines down on my world and other people’s worlds too. I’m thankful for all the times that sunrise or sunset has lit up a visiting grandchild enjoying time here on the farm.
I’m thankful for wildflowers that grow in the fields. Nature spreads their seeds and each year the flowers pop up to gift us with their beauty. No tending, no seeding, no tilling. They are just there blessing us year after year. Of course, I like those tilled and tended flowers too, but right now I’m counting black-eyed Susans and Queen Anne’s lace.
I’m thankful that I have a place for a garden and that with that weeding and tilling and tending, I can have fresh vegetables for my dinner table. I’m thankful that I learned from my mother how to preserve that produce to enjoy even after the snow flies. Those gardens have guaranteed that my family got plenty to eat.
In the last dozen or so years, I’m thankful that my son has taken over doing a lot of the tending and tilling as his family grew in number and they needed more of the fresh produce than my husband and I did. It’s been fun watching the grandchildren weeding and picking and tending the garden. Sometimes the littlest ones want to do the harder jobs like pushing the seeder. I’m thankful my grandchildren have a good father to let them give it a try. I’m very thankful that all my grandchildrem are blessed with loving fathers and mothers.
I’m thankful I have beautiful places on my farm to take walks and to discover the beauty of nature. I haven’t gone down the creek as much this year. Mostly because one of my dogs, Marley, has gotten too old to make his way down the steep cliff path. But I am thankful for both my furry walking companions and for the dogs I’ve had through the years to keep me company on my walks.
I am thankful for the gift of words the Lord gave me and that I have found many story ideas such as my Hidden Springs mysteries. The giveaway for a set of these 3 mysteries, Murder at the Courthouse, Murder Comes by Mail, and Murder Is No Accident is till going on. You can throw your name in my giveaway hat by making a comment on this post. You must be at least 18 years old to enter and the deadline to make that enter is midnight EST on Novenber 26, 2o24. Each time you leave a comment on a new post before the deadline, you get another entry to increase you chances of being the lucky winner. I’ll pick that winner by random and contact her or him by email. I’ll announce the winner (first name and initial only) here on my next post after that.
One of my reasons for thanksgiving is you. I’m very thankful for you readers who read my words. Thank you! Thank you!
I could keep typing until my fingers got tired and not run out of reasons I have to be thankful.
If you were in the circle at my church on one of those Thanksgiving gatherings over the years, what thing would you mention as a reason you feel blessed?
Comments 22
So, so many reasons! Being raised as a “PK” (preacher’s kid), which gave me a great foundation and introduced me to Jesus at an early age, the best parents, a loving hubby, children, grandchildren and now, great grandchildren. Excellent health, a home in the country, a wonderful home church and church family…..I could go on and on! Suffice it to say I am extremely blessed and I am so very grateful!
Author
That is a great list beginning for you, Judi, and especially since you know you could go and on. So could I. I could echo you on the excellent health, a home in the country, and wonderful home church and church family.
I can’t echo the PK, but I did write some stories about a preacher’s kid, Jocie, in my Heart of Hollyhill books. While working on that I read several things about preacher’s kids and thought about the preacher kids I’ve known. Not that Jocie was a normal PK since her mom deserted her dad and Jocie years before my books.
What a lovely post! I’m thankful for my family and our health, but also for authors like you who write such wonderful books.
Author
Thank you, Megan, for your kind words about my books and those of other authors you are thankful for as well. So many great authors out there now writing good, heart-warming stories. Makes me just want more reading time. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for telling me that. A writer needs that encouragement at times.
I have so much to be thankful for! My family, my husband, 2 daughters and their husbands and 4 grandchildren are special blessings in my life! Also thankful that we all love Jesus and are thankful for His sacrifice for us. Also health, safety and provision and so much more!
I really enjoy reading your emails. Would love to win your Hidden Springs mysteries! I’ve enjoyed reading many of your books!
Author
Thank you so much for reading my books, Mary. I’m thankful for every reader because I want to share my stories.
It is good to have the blessing of family and then to have them all part of the Lord’s family too. So many wonderful blessings to count.
Hi, Ann,
I feel blessed to have all girls(5) for grandchildren after having all sons(3).
Enjoyed your blog. We saw some beautiful flowers today, too (roses, black eyed susans, & 2 other plants).
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Gina
Author
What fun to see your comment here, Gina. I am so glad I have been able to meet you and for the times we’ve been able to chat. I’m especially pleased you enjoyed the blog post. So fun to count our blessings and start with our beautiful grandchildren. I’m sure those girls are charming their grandmother and grandfather too.
It has been a season of flowers this fall, hasn’t it?
I’m am thankful for living for 72 years with good health. This has allowed me to enjoy so many things that I might have missed without it. I am thankful for many good memories of my family and friends.
Author
It’s great when the years pile up to add to the blessing of life, Connie. I too am very glad for good health and for my wonderful family and friends, even those friends I only know through the internet. Thank you for being one of them.
Thanks so much for the reminder to be thankful each day.
Author
I do like when something I read leads me down a thankful trail, Alison. And although I do have my grumpy moments (who doesn’t?), I know how many thanklful moments I have that should push them aside.
I am thankful for God’s grace and for Christian authors who write uplifting inspirational books.
Author
What sweet blessings you mention, Sharon. We can all be very thankful for the Lord’s grace in our lives. Thank you for your encouraging words about Christian authors.
And, we are thankful for you. For your gift of words and for our a Sunday morning walks with you. Keep them coming.
Author
Your comment coming right after Diane’s really has me smiling, Sharon. Thank you so much for your encouragement and for reading my words. Plus, it’s fun to have you “along” on those Sunday morning walks. May be chilly next Sunday. Time to finally bring in the flowers I want to winter.
I’m thankful for being able to read your words and see your pictures. They bring me joy and a feeling of peace.
Author
What a very special comment for me to read, Diane. Thank you so much for your encouragement as I keep trying to write words and come up with stories. The pictures are all fun. Such a joy to snap a picture that has a little wow of nature in it.
If I could choose only one of my many blessings, my answer might vary depending on my age. But now at almost 79 and being in very good physical condition and mental condition although sometimes I wonder about that when I go from one room to another trying to remember why I went there, I would sum it all up by being thankful that God blessed me with my life and the people who have been a part of it.
Author
I know what you mean by that, Jean. When my babies were little I was so thankful to be their mother. I’m still thankful for my children and the fine adults they became and their families, but it was such a blessing to hold each of those new babies and watch them grow up.
So, I too am blessed by a long life and all the wonderful people I’ve met and loved.
Being able to walk outside in the beautiful countryside, and also seeing stunning sunrises and sunsets.
Author
Those are certainly reasons I’m thankful, Birdie. I love living in a rural area where I can see the stars at night and watch the sun come up in the morning.