We put up a Thanksgiving tree this year. When I sit in front of it, I see simplicity and abundance at the same time. While Christmas is in a league of its own, Thanksgiving has special meaning. On this day, we give thanks for all God has given us and hopefully recognize everything we have is from the grace of His hand.

Through no virtue of our own, He gives us the gift of our families. Our homes, our talents, our children, our provision, our beds,  our shelter — our salvation, peace, and joy also come totally from Him.

On Thanksgiving we acknowledge God as the Giver of Gifts, and we are most blessed if we understand this.

If you are in a painful season, and it feels as though God has given; God has taken away — a season of trial and loss, grief or regret — you will do yourself a favor to look outside at Creation and give thanks. Gaze upon His majesty and beauty, the flickering birds in the trees or squirrels on the lawn, the falling crunch of the rust-colored leaves, the joy of a child in front of you unexpectedly, learning new tricks, the light in his eyes.

Count the gifts.

Through the endurance of trial, we change. As hard as it sounds, through pain, we are refined. On the other side of our pain, we have grown. We have learned to see our Creator’s movement in our lives as an act of grace.

So at Thanksgiving, we sit around our tables and honor Him, knowing that all these gifts are earned through nothing we have done. His gifts are unrelated to our virtue or merit. He gives to us because we are His children, and it brings Him joy to see us enjoying the simplicity and abundance. So the gifts we give and the gifts we receive on Thanksgiving are all grace. And for all the food and all the laughter and all the family around the table: He gets the glory.

Happy Thanksgiving Y’all — and if you need a great family recipe for your leftover turkey, you’ll find that here.

Love, Jen