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Celebrating Thanksgiving

By Bonnie Gray • November 25, 2010 • 19 Comments

“These God-chosen lives all around – what splendid friends they make!” ~ Psalm 16:3
(The Message)

Thanksgiving Day has finally arrived. It’s an important day.

Today, I’ll be heading over to my aunt’s house for a big family get together.  It’ll be really festive with more aunts, uncles, cousins, and babies than a fire-marshal would approve of.  There will also probably be a brain-damaging amount of television being aired as background noise through all the celebrating.

As we bow to pray tonight, I would have already given a word of thanksgiving for you.

Providence brought the friendship of Native Americans to the first pilgrims, and it got them through a grueling winter. There’s also no doubt in my mind that God has brought your friendship here through the blogosphere — as we encourage each other in the daily grind.

I’ve lived through my share of winters to know that connection isn’t something that can be produced or created. 

It is a gift.

What We Know & What We Don’t Know

You have given me the best — sharing what everyday faith looks like in your life.  Your stories have stored up an amazing harvest, that will last me through my spiritual journey ahead.

~  We are spiritual pilgrims, on our way to where God is taking us.

~  We don’t know the lay of the land, but we walk by faith.

~  Together, we help each other by sharing what we know — and equally important, what we don’t know.

If we knew everything and saw everything so clearly, we would have no need for faith.

There would be no mystery.

There would be no risk.

Faith Pilgrimage

Today, as I thank God for how He’s blessed me, I thank God for you.

I gather your words and your silent comradery, like a happy chipmunk on a bright autumn day.

Early in our nation’s history, a group of pilgrims left home to find freedom.

Those of us who are following the way of the cross are also on a faith pilgrimage. We leave the familiar behind — self-direction and self-fulfillment — to experience something greater:  God-directed and faith-filled lives.

There are joys and trials as our stories unfold. I’m grateful to travel the in-between time together. So much more meaningful and that much less alone.

Thank You, Jesus

Thank you, Jesus, for being faithful in your love for us, calling us your friends.  You draw near, during times no one else notices.

Even before you faced your longest winter on the cross, you stopped to celebrate a bit of thanksgiving, with a meal surrounded by friends.

You broke bread and gave thanks.  You poured the wine, lifted up your cup to a toast, and gave thanks.

We can face our winters and encourage each other, because you lived through our winters on the cross.

And for that, we are thankful.

 

~~~~~

You need to know, friends,
that thanking God over and over for you
is not only a pleasure;
it’s a must.”

~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3
(The Message)

~~~~~

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving?

I hope you have an awesome Happy Thanksgiving!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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19 Comments

  • Reply Tweets that mention Celebrating Thanksgiving | Faith Barista -- Topsy.com November 25, 2010 at 4:33 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Glynn Young, Alltop Christianity. Alltop Christianity said: Celebrating Thanksgiving: “These God-chosen lives all around – what splendid friends they make!” ~ Psalm 16:3 (… http://bit.ly/gfrPYL […]

  • Reply Katie November 25, 2010 at 5:56 am

    I am thanking God for you and your blog. It has been so wonderful to hear your story and to get to know you. Your words have inspired me over and over.
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Reasonably Happy =-.

  • Reply Katie November 25, 2010 at 5:57 am

    Oh and to answer you question: I am going to the retirement apartments with my Oma. My mom and her husband are also joining us and we are eating at the restaurant there.
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Reasonably Happy =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:07 pm

      Thanks, Katie! Sounds like you had a clean-up free Thanksgiving meal with those you love.

  • Reply Laura November 25, 2010 at 7:58 am

    What an insightful post, Bonnie, as always. I love the imagery of the happy chipmunk! 😉 I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
    .-= Laura´s last blog ..Happy Thanksgiving! =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:06 pm

      Thanksgiving turned out great! Thanks, Laura!

  • Reply Maureen (Mo) November 25, 2010 at 8:29 am

    Have a bountiful and very Happy Thanksgiving.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:05 pm

      Thanks, Mo!

  • Reply Beth Werner Lee November 25, 2010 at 10:13 am

    I’m up in your neck of the woods, well Lafayette, with the Chinese in-laws. We came up from Santa Barbara yesterday: husband, daughter, 80 year old dad who lives with us, and got in rather late. I’m having allergies which affect my eyes, so the driving wasn’t fun as it usually is. Nevertheless we had a pretty good time in the car playing Christmas music (why wait?) and when we stopped at Gilroy outlets we couldn’t believe how cold it was!
    We’re thankful Uncle Irving has a job at Apple, in Cupertino and that he’s coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. He’s got a deadline on December 10 that’s keeping everyone at work although they were all told they could have the week off. How about that?!
    My mother-in-law is cooking turkey (although she herself didn’t care for the meat) and I brought up yams and a pumpkin to make the parts of the meal that matter most to my daughter. I really liked your baked chicken story; so true! Even though I grew up with a Greek mom who could cook anything, my first turkey was still raw when it came time to serve, so we chopped it up (rather Chinese style) and microwaved what we wanted to eat!
    God bless you Bonnie!
    Beth

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:05 pm

      Welcome to Silicon Valley! Hope you’re enjoying the sunny but chilly weather up here, Beth! … I chuckled imagining you doing the Chinese chopping on that year’s microwave turkey meal! 🙂

  • Reply Fr. Michael November 25, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    Thanks for this post, Bonnie. I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving day with family. It’s one of my favorite days of the year: faith, family, food, fun! God bless you. Keep up the great work!
    .-= Fr. Michael´s last blog ..The Power of Positive Living =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:07 pm

      Great to hear you were surrounded by the fab 4! 🙂 It’s everything wonderful combined! Blessings, Fr. Michael!

  • Reply Jeri @godsdreamsforme November 25, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Thank you so much Bonnie. Such a beautiful way of writing thanks. and to the prayer – Amen in Jesus Name 😀

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:08 pm

      Thanksgiving Aloha’s to you, Jeri! 🙂

  • Reply jasonS November 26, 2010 at 10:05 am

    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Bonnie! Blessings…
    .-= jasonS´s last blog ..Light Friday Hit List- 11-26-10 =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray November 26, 2010 at 10:09 pm

      The evening was care-free and relaxing… Perfect! Hope you had a great one too, Jason!

  • Reply aplaceforthoughts November 27, 2010 at 2:38 am

    Great post, Bonnie! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

  • Reply Debbie November 27, 2010 at 10:50 am

    I’m so thankful that I’ve been getting to know you Bonnie! You have such a way with words. And I must add that you have a beautiful heart too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I love how you reminded us of our spiritual pilgrimage. After all, this isn’t our permanent home …we’re just passing through on this life of faith.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie
    .-= Debbie´s last blog ..Go Light Your World =-.

  • Reply Nikole Hahn November 29, 2010 at 10:13 am

    Your blogs are very refreshing, insightful, and full of joy. Happy belated Thanksgiving, Bonnie! My husband had to work on Thanksgiving. I cut out “I Love U” in cranberries for his lunch and created a huge feast that greeted his eyes when he arrived home. It looks as if his job will never let him off on Thanksgiving unless he asks for a vacation day. :o( But I am grateful his job is secure and in this economy that’s nothing short of a miracle!
    .-= Nikole Hahn´s last blog ..Let’s Celebrate! =-.

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