When I think about that first Thanksgiving, I wonder if we’ve lost sight of its true meaning.. It’s not about the busyness of getting food prepared, bracing ourselves for family squabbles, overeating yummy food and saying a word of thanks. Thanksgiving Day is a special day that reminds us to celebrate “Thanksgivings” daily.
I mean, what is Thanksgiving? I know that question sounds silly but do we really know what Thanksgiving is? Maybe most would say it’s a holiday where we gather with family and friends, eat turkey and give thanks, right?
Actually, the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 when the European colonists and the Wampanoag people celebrated the harvest together. They most likely sat outside on the ground or on barrels, shared venison, geese, and duck, ran races, and struggled to communicate with each other due to the language barrier. It wasn’t a polished, fancy dinner, just a simple feast of thanksgiving. I think I kind of remembered all of this from my high school American History class.
What I didn’t know, however, was that the New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanksgivings,” days of prayer thanking God for blessings. They didn’t limit their thanks to the harvest or an annual family get together. They understood how important it is to give thanks often and to share our blessings with others.
In the same spirit, Thanksgiving has always been a big holiday in our house – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and apple pie are always on the menu! Sometimes I go overboard, making sure the house is perfectly clean and the food is properly prepared. But mostly, for us, it’s about family and friends gathering together! We talk about what we are most grateful for, eat amazing food, play games and enjoy our time together. Our gatherings have been large and small but they’re always the same – filled with gratefulness and thanks to God for bringing us through another year.
Last Thanksgiving was a difficult time for my family as I had just been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. I started intense chemotherapy and couldn’t host. It was the first time Thanksgiving was not at my house in over 20 years. It crushed me. I’m big on traditions and we had to break one of my favorite ones.
But this year is different! Our Thanksgiving traditions are back because God has blessed me with sustained health and I will, once again, be hosting Thanksgiving. As I think back over this difficult year of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation treatments, I’ve realized that the location, food and traditions of Thanksgiving are wonderful and help us remember the years of joy we’ve had. But, as wonderful as those traditions are, it’s ok to embrace new traditions or take a break from the old ones and focus on what’s truly important about the holiday – gratitude. Gratitude for what God has given us, the little things and the big things, even in the midst of adversity, family disruptions and, yes, health issues.
I’m so thankful for God’s faithfulness during this last year. Words can never express how grateful I am for the expertise of my doctors, the love and support of friends and family and my current health. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. None of us do. So, I’ve decided to focus on daily “Thanksgivings.” The thanks I can give God in the still, quiet of an early morning or the winding down of a long day. The thanks I give Him for the big things and the little things. I’ll even thank Him for the hard things and messy things.
If the Pilgrims could thank God so heartily when they had so little, I think we, too, can throw some “Thanksgivings” His way. So whether it’s Thanksgiving Day or an ordinary Tuesday, may our hearts overflow with daily thanksgivings — because every breath, every moment, is a gift from God.
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APPLE OF HER EYE PIE 🍎✨
This isn’t your grandmother’s apple pie—well, actually, it might be even better. My absolute favorite apple pie, this showstopper from culinary legends Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins has a secret weapon: sharp cheddar cheese baked right into the crust. The savory-sweet combo with a hint of mustard creates pure magic, combined eight tart apples tossed in butter, cinnamon, and lemon zest. This pie is guaranteed to make you the apple of someone’s eye. This is sure to become a Thanksgiving staple at your house too!
