In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father. Ephesians 5:20

Ah…I can smell it now. The scents of a roasting bird filled with pungent stuffing, mingling with the spicy cinnamon and nutmeg in sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving must be very near. Most of our days are filled with fast food, quick suppers thrown together from whatever is waiting in the frig, but on Thanksgiving, we pull out all the stops. We shift into the traditional mode, searching for Grandma’s unbeatable stuffing recipe and Aunt Rose’s to-die-for pumpkin pie. The kitchen becomes a beehive of activity and, as company arrives, they all migrate to the place where Thanksgiving dinner begins.

Soon everyone is taking a walk down memory lane, visiting Thanksgivings past and reliving stories of youth and adventure. And, if your family is anything like ours, the stories get bigger and bigger in the annual retelling. We love to gather with those we love, share the happenings in our lives since we gathered last, and stuff ourselves on forbidden food with a promise to get right back on that diet as soon as Monday rolls around.

The food is delicious, the stories are fun, and the football games; playing in the backyard variety or watching our favorite teams battle it out on TV, all combine to make it a very festive day…..but there’s more to Thanksgiving than all of that. As I reflect on all that God has done for me and for my family this past year, I realize just how blessed we are to have him right here in our everyday lives.

Holidays can be some of the most beautiful times of our year, yet it doesn’t turn out that way for everyone. So as we gather to give thanks to God for his blessings in our lives, perhaps we know someone who may be alone and hurting, someone who’s a stranger in town or just living alone with no family nearby? Why not ask them to join us? Embrace them into our family and make them feel welcome. It’s what Jesus would do. In fact, he embraced anyone at any time, no matter how busy he might have been or how far behind in his journeys. He always had time to stop and talk for a while and maybe offer a hug of friendship. And he didn’t surround himself with royalty or affluent dignitaries. He dwelt among the common people of his day. He was one of them.

As we move from the feast of Thanksgiving into the mystery of Advent, we turn our thoughts to the story of a miracle, one in which a young girl is touched by God himself and chosen to carry a very special child, though she remains a virgin. Over these next few weeks, we’ll experience the drama and significance of the story that unfolds on the stage of Bethlehem.

The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!” Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. Luke 1:28-31

Are you ready to open your heart to the story that begins in a manger stall and finds its ending on a roughly hewn cross? But, of course, it doesn’t end! What seems to be the end is just the beginning. It’s quite a tale. Are you ready to meet your Lord and Savior in a stable outside of Bethlehem?

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! II Corinthians 9:15