The Point

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. As a young boy growing up in Kentucky I had a stable tradition on Thanksgiving of family, food and great fellowship! We would always go to my mom-maws for an afternoon Thanksgiving meal around noon. The smells of her turkey cooking, the wonderful dressing that only mom-maw could make, and my favorite cranberry salad, would all fill the house with the scent of the holiday. In attendance would always be my parents, my brothers, mom-maw and my uncle Joel (mom’s brother). We would eat enough food to feed a small country - Joel and I always fighting over the sweet potatoes! We would then relax for a while (taking naps), and then we would go 5 minutes down the road to my grandma & grandpa’s and do it all over again! Only this time, with 3 times as many people! The memories are still vivid for me, and I am thankful for them.

As I started my own life, and got married (20 yrs ago), Beth and I began our own traditions. We didn’t always eat at the same place, or with the same people. This year, for the 1st time since we have known each other (1986), we will not be together for Thanksgiving. Beth and the girls are in Kentucky helping Beth’s mom recover from major surgery. Andrew and I will be here in Virginia helping serve Thanksgiving dinner at our church. However, even though I will miss my girls, I still have so much to be thankful for… so many reasons to praise God.

The lyrics of the old church hymn “Count Your Blessings” is right on target for Thanksgiving:                                                      When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

I am not a wealthy man by the standards of the world… but I have riches that the world can never measure! Just a few; my beautiful wife Beth, 3 kids (Andrew, Ashtyn & Baylee), my extended family - McKenzie’s & Haney’s, my church family at OBC, the privilege of being a pastor & proclaimer of God’s truth, true friends, my health, the freedom that comes from being an American, having a home, good coffee!!!!, good books… and I could go on and on!

However, as great as all that is… I am most thankful for the grace of God in my life through His Son - my Savior - Jesus Christ! I am thankful that God chose me to be His child through the salvation that the life, death & resurrection of Jesus provides.

This Thanksgiving, whether you are with your family or not, lets give thanksgiving and praise to God for what He has given us! Thanks be to our great God!!!

Psalm 100 (A Psalm of Thanksgiving)

¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
² Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.