Thanksgiving is the holiday where you pack the car and go visit your family. You make sure to bring along your boots and gloves because it might snow. You bring the kids’ latest school pictures to hand out to all the relatives. You bring the TobyMac CD your wife got you for your birthday, even though it’s not really her favorite, so you can listen to it on the way, even though you know that by the fourth song she’s going to nicely ask you to turn the volume down so far you might as well turn it off altogether.
Thanksgiving is the holiday where somebody brings a football so that during halftime of the Cowboys game you can go out in the yard and play catch with the guys. And even though you haven’t warmed up at all you still throw it as far as you can to show them you’ve still got a little something left, knowing all along you’ll pay for it in the morning when you feel like your arm’s about to fall off.
Thanksgiving is the holiday where your wife makes some of her delicious potato casserole and brings it to the family gathering. And you know that Uncle Jim is going to fix some of the best stuffing you’ve ever had, and Grandma’s going to make a pecan pie you’ve been waiting for since last year. You always eat way too much at dinner, but you still go back for more dessert because you didn’t have room on your plate the first time.
Thanksgiving is the holiday where you see the cousins whom you remember being about four like last year now in their first semester of college. You see other children running around who look exactly like your cousin did when she was that age. You wonder where the time went, and you realize that you’re now one of the old people.
Thanksgiving is the holiday where you meet some of your in-laws you’ve never met before, even though you’ve been married for over 19 years. Or maybe you have met them at a family reunion or a funeral but you sure don’t remember them.
Thanksgiving is the holiday where you draw names to see for which relative you’re going to buy a Christmas present. You don’t really have a clue what to get, but you let your wife do the shopping anyway, and when they open the gift you’re just as surprised as they are. They say thank you and you graciously receive their appreciation, but secretly nod and give your wife a thumbs up for being such a good gift giver.
And Thanksgiving is the holiday where you ultimately give thanks to God for being such a good gift giver. You realize that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. And while so often you take His blessings for granted, you’re reminded that surely goodness and mercy has indeed been following you all the days of your life, and the promise of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever is an undeserved, unparalleled gift.
This will be our fourth Thanksgiving without my Granddad. That doesn’t seem possible either. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII and the Korean War, fiercely and lovingly loyal to his country, his community and his family.
Many times when I’d ask him how he was doing, he would say, “Better than I deserve.” I love that answer. Granddad knew something about grace and gratitude that has taught me to be more thankful. Even when life’s not perfect, God is good. He’s good to imperfect people. His grace has saved a wretch like me. I’m doing far better than I deserve. Those who know Jesus know how true this is.
Happy Thanksgiving, and may we all give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
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