Forever Thanksgiving

[I wrote this years ago after watching my daughter’s kindergarten class in their Thanksgiving program at school, but I was reflecting on it this morning, how true it still is. My daughter is now a senior in high school. I have been around the block a few times since I wrote it. But it stands true. God’s faithfulness, our fragile lives, the power of gratitude. So I wanted to share it with you.]

They trickled in at first, then came in clumps. Together. White caps and feathered headbands. Blondes and brunettes. Curly haired and straight haired. Mohawks and pigtails. Some costumes made from paper bags and construction paper. Others from white felt cut-outs and black dresses. Fringes and buckles galore. All smiles.

Our sweet Pilgrim and Native American wannabes – ready to embrace this Thanksgiving. This one being special because they can understand much more about that first Thanksgiving than in years past. They are learning what it means to be truly thankful. But then, years don’t always bring thankfulness, do they? Often a thankful heart can be purest in childhood before the bitterness of life coils around it, choking the innocence and polluting the ground against further cultivating a grateful heart. 

In this, sometimes they teach us what we truly have been given in this life and beyond. I watch as the kindergarten classes file into the chapel and onto the stage to recite Psalm 136, all 26 verses, with motions.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

And it strikes me then, this mom with video camera and heart grasping at straws to find that for which I’m most grateful.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

I could say my life, my health, my family. But even now, I’m blowing my nose every hour.  My knees creak when I go up the steps. (Kendall says, “That’s what my teacher says happens when you get older.” Thanks, kid.) I’m not complaining. I know it could be so much worse. But I’m trying to make a point that it’s all so fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

And even though I’m so very thankful for my family that I don’t even have the words to express it in enough depth to do it any justice, family is made up of people. And sometimes people are going through their own stuff. At times, distant. At times, all-too-close. A blessing – a tremendous blessing at that! – but human. Fragile. Flawed.

to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;

I think about that first Thanksgiving. Both the Pilgrims and Native Americans had loved and lost. Met with horrendous disappointment and conflict. Encountered dreams dashed against the rocks right in front of them. Hopes blown away by the unforgiving wind. Lived in hunger. Said goodbye to spouses. Buried their children. 

the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;

That first Thanksgiving group was no stranger to pain. Heartache. Lives and paths gone seemingly horribly awry. 

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;

They didn’t take this meal lightly. I am still chuckling at what one parent said this morning when taking a group picture:  “Say corn patties!” And the kids, happy to be rid of the usual “Cheese!” obliged.

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;

They knew what it was to be hungry. And so do we. But they also knew Whom to thank for their food, both literally and figuratively. My prayer is that we do, too.

and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;

See, health is amazing. Marriage is a blessing. Motherhood is a dream for me. Family and friends are essential. But I know for Whom I am most grateful. Because His love endures forever. 

and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

And when life doesn’t go as I’ve planned, I know that His love still endures.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

When disappointment gets a hold of me and tugs me down, down, down – it is then I know where to look. Up.

he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Because others fail me. My best-laid plans falter. I mess up. But He doesn’t. And for that, I’m eternally grateful. 

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

The mini Pilgrims and Native Americans finish with aplomb and take their seats. This mom tucks her camera away in its bag. And this nugget away in her heart. True thanksgiving is sometimes born of pain. It comes out in the midst of travail. 

We also had two special visitors from the past, in full garb:  William Bradford and Squanto. They both told the kids about their lives, and Kendall later asked, “Mom, if Squanto said he died, how come he was there to tell us about it?” I learned something neat, though, about Squanto. How he was betrayed and sold as a slave. Like Joseph in the Bible, he learned that what was meant for harm, with God can be turned into good. 

It’s called redemption, that concept of the “buying back” of our freedom, of our situations, our current injuries. Those aches in our hearts can be redeemed because of God. He is a God Who redeems. He’s done it for years and is still in the business. He has a great track record. I don’t know how or when, but I do know Him. He saves and redeems because His steadfast love endures forever.