Thursday, November 18, 2021

On the Porch #24 * Thanksgiving Edition


When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer
To Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let earth's wide circle round 
in joyful notes resound: 
May Jesus Christ be praised! 
Let air and sea and sky 
from depth to height reply: 
May Jesus Christ be praised! 

Be this, when day is past, 
of all our thoughts the last: 
May Jesus Christ be praised! 
The night becomes as day 
when from the heart we say: 
May Jesus Christ be praised! 
Caswall & Barnby
1853











Wow, gang!  It's the weekend before Thanksgiving!  

A big ol' turkey?  Endless football games?  Pumpkin pie smothered in whipped cream?  The parade?  Church service?  A quiet solitary day?  A pre-made lasagna?  A visit to the care facility?  Grandma's traditional recipes?  Serving at the community meal or soup kitchen?  Board games or a movie or a brisk walk?  Maybe a tryptophan-induced snooze to fortify you for very early Friday morning shopping? 

{I will do my part to make the festivities even more out of hand by heading out on the road with 53.4 million of my closest friends.}  

Whatever floats your boat, I hope that all is calm and bright wherever you find yourself ... and that your people are healthy and fortunate enough to gather together.  

Thankfully, our 'people' don't have to be related by blood.  And traditions do well to be flexible and expansive, free to change from one year to the next as we're sensitive to the needs of those around us.  Our 'people' are those we reach out to, those who God has put on our hearts to enfold into this day ... and hopefully into our lives.

Sometimes that enfolding is completely accidental and long lasting like it is for Jamal and Wanda.

Could be that overwhelming grief nudges you to upend tradition by roasting marshmallows over the fire instead of going around the table saying what you're thankful for.

There's not a gathering that wouldn't benefit enormously from a Tech Shabbat.

And an extra dose of kindness if strong differences on faith, covid, or politics is the elephant in the room.

Hopefully this ridiculous kitchen disaster won't happen.

For sure, these chocolate covered strawberry turkeys look like a whole lot more fun. {J - can we make these?!} 

Meanwhile, grab the tissues for this song.

And I'm offering this prayer up to heaven yet again.

It never fails to amaze me at the odd ways tender sadness and sparkling joy mingle, how the bittersweet ache and hearty laughter truly can go hand and hand ... and how the craziness of it all can kick off an onslaught of gratitude that we simply must speak out loud.  It's how He made us.

Bless your grateful heart, bless your open door, bless your hospitable spirit ~
Linda

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🍗

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thankful for
Lisa  &  Jeanne 

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42 comments:

  1. Thanks for this invitation to be gentle with ourselves in this emotionally charged season. I am practicing the discipline of gratitude in this empty nest and learning the shape of big holidays with smaller crowds.

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    1. 'learning the shape of big holidays with smaller crowds'

      You've so poignantly expressed what yet another transition looks like, Michele. And each holiday will most likely have a bit of a different look.

      Yet another change, yes ...

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    2. Giving thanks for this invitation to a more flexible way of receiving celebrations.

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    3. Yes! Let's hear it for flexibility, especially all of us who are prone to keep yearning for what was.

      THESE are the good old days!

      ;-)

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  2. Every Thanksgiving our church offers a TD meal to our community from 11-1:00. We couldn't do it last year due to the pandemic but there was a desire to restart it this year. We offer an in person meal, a delivered meal, or a curb-side meal (first time). It makes for a busy but grateful day as we slow down to remember our friends and neighbors. I don't watch football so I slow down and if the weather is workable I will ride. If not, I will watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Santa Clause." Hope you have a thankful Thanksgiving Linda (and all your readers). /And you can send me some of those strawberry turkeys. :)

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    1. You guys must be so excited to roll up your sleeves again for this thoughtful, needed ministry, Bill. Not only have people missed out on receiving a delicious meal and meaningful connection, but so many are missing out on giving back, the preparing, serving, and reaching out. I'm so happy for you all.

      I'm probably the only person who's never watched 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Maybe this will be the year.

      Blessings to you, Jo, and your church family!

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  3. Don’t think I ever watched the whole movie It’s a Wonderful Life. If I did, I guess it wasn’t memorable to me cause I can’t remember any of it.

    Thankful this year for bodies that heal and the Creator who invented healing.

    Question: are u cutting up big marshmallows when you can buy tiny size? Shows how lazy I am.

    The commercial made me crackup and I hate commercials. That Turkey was a monster.

    Happy Thankful Day, friend

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    1. 'Thankful this year for bodies that heal and the Creator who invented healing.'

      Oh yes, yes, yes. I join you in that spirit of gratitude and appreciation. We know what it's like to be in the pit ... and we know Who ultimately brings us out and sets us free to live again.

      Happy Thanksgiving, Buds.
      xo

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  4. I love that hymn. It's been a long time since I've heard it. If we didn't have two with strawberry allergies, those chocolate covered ones would be on our table this year! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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    1. Thanks, Barbara! It's a hymn that often comes to mind as I wake up. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with joy and laughter and togetherness.

      It's so good to see you again. Bless you.

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  5. A lovely post and a grand way to enter into the Thanksgiving week and the days to follow!

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    1. My father always loved that word, 'grand.' Seeing you bringing it to the conversation today made me smile and think of him with fond memories.

      A blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours, Jeanie!

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  6. Love your thoughts here. Happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. And a happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Lauren. May there be joy and gladness as you gather 'round your table.

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  7. Beautiful, fun and touching thoughts here, Linda. we all need to be gentle not only with ourselves, but others. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!!

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    1. You make such a good point, Donna ... it's hard to love others well if we are not able to extend that same gentle grace to ourselves. Thanks for that reminder ... especially during the busyness of these final weeks of the year.

      Bless you.

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  8. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving! Those chocolate strawberry turkeys look like a lot of fun. We don't have a holiday here but an American couple has recently come to our church and a group of us are doing a Thanksgiving meal. The American couple have told us what dishes they traditionally have and I am doing green bean casserole, which I've never even heard of before! I'm also curious to try the sweet potato with marshmallows for the first time.

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    1. How fun to sample a bit of our holiday, Lesley ... the sweet potatoes with marshmallows are yummy. The green bean casserole? Well ... you be the judge! I'd love to hear about your experience!

      What would be a special holiday meal for you there in Scotland?

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    2. I'll let you know how it goes! The main holiday meal here is for Christmas when we have turkey, usually with stuffing, roast potatoes, brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets (mini sausages wrapped in bacon) and vegetables. The other one which some people do would be for Burns Night (25th January) when the traditional meal would be haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips and potatoes.) I'm not really a fan of haggis though!

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    3. mmm ... Your Christmas feast sounds similar to ours, Lesley. I'd love your recipe for pigs in blankets which is different than our pigs in blankets here {mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls out of a can!}

      As for the haggis? I'm with you ... not a fan. But my Dad sure loved a good 'haggis, neeps and tatties' meal.

      How 'bout we get a pizza instead?!

      * haggis - 'the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, & lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced & mixed with beef or mutton suet & oatmeal & seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, & other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach & boiled.'

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    4. That's funny that we have different versions of pigs in blankets. Ours are literally just mini sausages with rashers of bacon wrapped round them and then baked so there isn't really a recipe. And the description of haggis is enough to put anyone off! :)

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    5. Sausage + Bacon = A Carnivore's Delight!

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  9. Sitting awhile on your front porch is always a blessed use of my time. Happy Thanksgiving and gratitude for you!

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    1. Barbara, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you for continuing to pour gentle beauty and a calm perspective into my life. I surely am grateful.

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  10. Such lovely photos of Thanksgiving. And those chocolate turkeys are so fun!

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    1. Aren't they cute? I'm hoping to make them with the grandkiddos ... should be an adventure since they're all 11 and above!

      I hope you'll be enjoying the holiday with those you love. I'm grateful that God has brought you into my life in recent months.

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  11. Your photos are always so beautiful and nostalgic and meaningful, Linda. My heart is bittersweet this Thanksgiving due to some family issues, but even in the midst of it, I need to bow the knee and give praise to the Father for all the blessings that still remain. Thank you for your kind words for us all.

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    1. Oh Lisa, I'm so sorry. Family 'issues' are painful at any time of the year, but yes, at the holidays they hurt even more. I'm praying for you even as we speak.

      May He whisper a tender peace to your soul, dear friend.

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving, Linda. Beautiful pictures. Made me hungry. The turkey commercial had me laughing.

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    1. Yep, that turkey flying through the window never fails to crack me up!

      Happy Thanksgiving to you, Theresa. I'm so grateful for the truths you publish over and over. You're a wise woman, indeed ...

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  13. Thank you, Linda. I hope you have a safe trip and wonderful Thanksgiving with family! Love and blessings to all of you!

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    1. Blessings to you and yours, dear Trudy, as we celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope you're doing well ...

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  14. Great pictures Linda. Lots of Thanksgiving memories...hope you enjoy making new ones!

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    1. I think we're both in for some unexpectedly good memory making ... we'll compare notes next week.
      xo

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  15. Linda, this was such a lovely post to read this morning. Thanksgiving may look differently but may one thing remain the same - our hearts filled with gratitude. May you and yours have a blessed day!

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    1. Hearts filled with gratitude. Amen, friend! Enjoy this special week ...

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  16. Linda, there is always something at your table set in your blog for anyone who comes by. Thank you for being a constant source of Christ likeness. Thank you for being faithful to post words that encouraged and lift the spirit, truth after truth. Thank you for being an open vessel serving a Holy God. Thank you for being Linda. Happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. Betty, you've encouraged my heart by pointing to Jesus. Where would we be, who would we be without Him.

      I'm grateful for the work He continues to do in all of us.

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  17. May Jesus Christ be praised, indeed! Thank you for the wonderful treats you've shared in your post. Lovely words and beautiful pictures. Happy Thanksgiving!

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