I was reminded last week that Thanksgiving is literally closer than I think. We live in a wooded area, and my husband loves to hunt. He telephoned me on my cell. All I could hear was, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." He'd called in a turkey, and it was standing at our back door gobbling away.

How did the holidays sneak up on us? We're about to enter the week where we're supposed to make a dedicated effort to count our blessings instead of our burdens. But for many, that's a stretch.

A recent survey showed that over 78% of females and 51% of males in America found the holidays a difficult season to endure: deaths, unplanned career changes, downturns in the economy, rebellious children, new transitions in life, etc, etc. Yes, the list goes on and on.

"Happy Thanksgiving. Happy? Really?" we question. We readily admit that it's hard to be positive when the holidays aren't shaping up the way we had planned.

Someone once said, and I believe it, "Women are the pacesetters in the home." Often she's the one who steers the ambiance around the Thanksgiving table in a positive direction because, after all, she cooked the food.

I heard about a lady years ago that performed a most unusual activity with her family when they gathered at the table. In keeping with God's command to "Give thanks in ALL circumstances," she thought, "Well, Lord, how can I lead my family to do that?"

So she carried on as usual, setting up a lovely Thanksgiving spread, bringing out her finest linens, well-polished silverware and Grandmother Essie Mae's China. But instead of a Fall adorned centerpiece with orange and brown leaves, she set one dozen red roses right in the center of the table; however, one major element was noticeably different. All the roses had been cut off and only stems of thorns remained in the vase. Everyone inquired about the out-of-the-ordinary arrangement.

"You will all have to wait until after we eat," she teased. "Yes, before the pumpkin pie I'll tell you."

Following the meal, everyone waited to hear why the stems of thorns. She then placed a long thorny 2 inch stem on every dessert plate and proceeded to read the short story Thankful for the Thorns. Each person was asked to share some experience over the past year that served as a thorn to handle, perhaps a serious trial they endured or a tragedy they were still trying to understand. They responded by taking the details of the thorn story and turning it into a beautiful rose story of how God either worked it out for good or might be working it for a higher profit in an effort to praise the Lord for His presence in the difficulty.  

It turned out to be a very intimate and revealing time as family members shared together. It took them beyond mere surface conversation and the usual excitement of a festive Thanksgiving meal into a more concentrated effort to truly focus on God, draw from His strength, and give Him thanks. Real. Genuine. Pertinent.

For some women reading this devotional you might say, "Oh, I could do that with my family! And I think I will!" While most would say, "Pam, that is not something that would 'fit' my family dynamics!" I totally understand. There have been years when it wouldn't have been a comfortable activity with my family either.

But I do feel that ALL of us as women of God can ask Him how we might be personal examples to our families in what it looks like to be thankful regardless of our circumstances. And why should we give thanks NO MATTER WHAT?   Because God wills it in His Word- 1 Thessalonians 5:18- Yes, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is MY will for you in Christ Jesus.

Girlfriends, let's do it. And let's take to heart the theme of this little devotional. Perhaps we should even voice it in a prayer:

Lord, this Thanksgiving, teach me to give You thanks for all my thorns (and I have a lot of them) as easily as I praise You for my roses."

'Happy' Thanksgiving. Happy? Yes..... Happy, my friend!

Lovin' you,

Pam

P.S. Read the story on Pam's blog that she mentioned earlier: Thankful For the Thorns. It's fantastic!