Next week we celebrate our National Day of Thanks, Thanksgiving. Even though we all have different circumstances, who among us is not ready to say thank you to God for all of their blessings. Yes, folks, Thanksgiving is about thanking God for safety, health, family, and food on our table. If you are not thanking God, just who are you giving thanks to!

We have come to think of the holiday as a day of feasting.

They are telling us that the meal will cost more this year as the price of groceries is going up. I think I have a good handle on things.

My pantry once again comes into play. I have all I need to make pies and casseroles. I have my turkey and it did not cost me an arm and a leg either.

What are the must haves? For us it is turkey, cranberries, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie. My husband happens to like mincemeat pie the best so I will make one of those. I have my mincemeat on hand. I have raw cranberries, too. We like the raw relish with oranges the best so that is what I will make.

There have been years when we did not have this type of feast.

The first year we moved to Hickory Heights, I was cooking on a wood stove. I knew that I could not keep my oven at a temperature to cook a turkey. My mother-in-law was ill so the family was not getting together. We had pork chops and all of the trimmings. I think I made apple crisp rather than pie because I could do that in my microwave.

The most important thing is that my family was together. I gave thanks for family that year.

One Thanksgiving, our son was on call out in Columbus for the vet clinic. He told us he had hamburgers for his dinner. One year our daughter was out in Iowa going to law school. I am not sure what she had to eat, but she and her husband ate alone.

Some folks will have family, some will not. No matter your circumstances, give thanks for all the Lord does for you. You are fortunate to have survived the pandemic. Others are not so fortunate. They have lost loved ones. There will be empty chairs at the Thanksgiving table.

I found a piece by Edgar A. Guest that I want to include here. He began his career in 1895 at the age of fourteen when his first work appeared in the “Detroit Free Press”.

Eventually, his column was published in more than three hundred newspapers.

He earned the title of “The Poet of the People” because of his simple ways.

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A Slice of Life

Thanksgiving

‘Twas this the mother always said:

“Be thankful for your daily bread

And thankful for your strength to bear

Whatever comes of hurt and care.

Make every day Thanksgiving day!

At table bow your heads and pray

And give your hearts to God above

In gratitude for all His love.

Be thankful for the loveliness

Of earth in every season’s dress;

The springtime green, the summer rose,

The autumn’s glorious, golden close.

Be thankful for your blessings all:

The happy memories you recall;

For time, which every heartache mends,

And oh, be thankful for our friends!”

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Loving Father, I give thanks for family and friends. I give thanks that I have enough to eat and a table to sit around and visit. I thank the Lord for good health. I am thankful to have come out the other side of a battle with cancer. I am mindful that there are those who do not have these very basic things. Lord, be with them in their unique circumstances. Let them know that you care about them. If you are unable to provide a true Thanksgiving dinner at least provide something for them to eat. In my bounty I will give what I am able to make their meal sufficient. In Jesus name I pray for those less fortunate. May they experience the love that only you provide. Amen.

Have a blessed and thankful holiday.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.