Reflections

photo of our pond - November 2008

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by name, am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:3

Thanksgiving for my family of five and our extended family has been held at our home for the past several years. My mother always brings the tasty turkey and dressing, my sister always brings a delicious pumpkin roll, and my sister-in-law always brings some of her yummy dishes ... sometimes even chicken nuggets for my picky nephew. Some of my favorite things to prepare are the sweet potato casserole, wild rice, fresh green beans, pecan pie, pumpkin cake, and cranberry jello salad. Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and even some 'significant others' have joined in our annual celebration. This year will be different though. Very non-traditional and out of the ordinary. Since one son will be working and another son is away at college, husband, daughter and myself will be going to visit college son and have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant with him. I am not sure about this arrangement. It's different and I am definitely a creature of habit and comfort. I like things the same, constant, familiar.

I thought about all this today and even cried a little. This unusual Thanksgiving seems to go along with the entire 2008 year. It's been all about change, adjustment, reminding me that nothing in this life stays the same. We have definitely had our share of change this year - financial stress, cancer, life threatening car accidents, grief (losing four close relatives, including my mother-in-law this year). In spite of all the change that has affected us, I am thankful. Because in the pain of the adjustment, blessings came too. Treasures, hidden riches of secret places that caused me to know my God better and trust Him even more.
I realize this world is not meant to be so comfortable. If it were, we may not long for home. The home that awaits us. Beyond this life. Heaven.
So as I pack my suitcase for a Thanksgiving away from this home, my little nest, I pause to be thankful, truly thankful ... more than ever ... that He never changes. My God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

“We cannot remain faithful and question God’s own faithfulness. His love for those who are in Christ is beyond question. His character is a constant and his love never fails. He is not loving and gracious toward believers at one moment, only to turn into a malevolent deity the next. He never changes.
In this light, it would be sin to question . . . whether God really loves us, or if He is really faithful to his promises. This is not the questioning worthy of a believer, but of an unbeliever.”
- Albert Mohler, “Is it Legitimate to Question God?“

These reflections were written in response to an invitation by L. L. Barkat.

You are cordially invited by L. L. Barkat to join a Thanksgiving Celebration. Just post about a Thanksgiving memory, something you are thankful for this year, a special family Thanksgiving tradition, your favorite "thanksgiving" Bible verse, or anything else you can dream up. Be serious, spiritual, creative, beautiful, humorous, whatever … it’s a celebration and good celebrations welcome all kinds of expression!