| Psalm 107:8-9 – “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” |
Thanksgiving was always a special time for my family when I was growing up and continued that way as I became an adult. No matter where we gathered, there was always an abundance of our favorite foods, fun and laughter. My mother began planning weeks in advance and started stocking up on the items she knew she would need. She especially loved baking pies and made sure we each got the kind we wanted: blueberry for my older brother, pumpkin for my younger brother, lemon meringue for me, cherry for dad, and apple for my daughter, along with a variety of others. All my life my mom loved baking pies, and she tried numerous times to teach me. I failed to learn but my daughter did, and each year she would spend a whole day with her grandmother making pies. I never did quite understand how mom managed to cook such an enormous amount of food and have it all ready at the same time. It always looked and smelled amazing. But before any of us could start to eat, we would stand in a giant circle and hold hands. I would look around the room and thank God for my ever-growing family who took this special day to gather together. Dad would then give thanks for the food, for each one of us and for the blessings we had received that year. His prayer always seemed to reach straight to heaven. I am so thankful for these wonderful memories with my family.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be aware of our blessings each day, not just on a special day set aside for it. Your blessings are new every morning! Amen
– Betty Gossell
