Thankful for a Huge Thanksgiving Crowd

I don't know about you, but I have a lot to be thankful for. So much so, that I had Asherel take a picture of me in a thankful pose so that I could use it as a reference for my drawing today. And when I looked at the picture, I grimaced and asked her, "Do I REALLY look like that?" She nodded sympathetically. (Well, ok, "sympathetically" might not be as accurate a term to describe her expression as "mocking" .) Nonetheless, among other things, I am thanking God for art, that allows me to paint the world as I want it to be, not necessarily as it is.

We had just Mom K, Arvo, Asherel and me as Thanksgiving Dinner guests. I invited a friend I knew would be alone, but she had already accepted an invitation elsewhere. I wanted to invite everyone from the Nursing Home that had no place to go, but we thought if we do that, we probably ought to plan ahead next time, get a staff member to come along too... Still, it was a very nice, albeit small celebration. I made the usual feast, of which maybe 1% was eaten. The rest will feed us for the next 5 months. I am happy about that because today officially starts the Xmas season, and I won't have time to cook. I always set the tree up the day after Thanksgiving, start wrapping gifts I have collected over the year, make xmas cards and daydream about both boys being home breathing the very air I breathe. Who has time to cook in the midst of all that?

But back to Thanksgiving. We made a fire, despite a very warm and pleasant day outside, and then Arvo retrieved Mom K from the Nursing Home. We settled her in a recliner in front of the fire, and brought her hot cider. While I cooked, the dogs, Arvo, and Mom K snoozed in front of the fire. Then we feasted, after reading Psalm 100. And then we played Rummicube, and Mom K almost won. I won't tell you who did win since I am practicing humility.

As Mom K was exhausted by that time, she asked if we would return her home now.
"Thank you for inviting us," she said. I smiled, and told her I hoped "they" would come again. Of course, by "us", I wasn't sure if she meant her long dead husband, or some other ghost of a person that was in her heart. After she left, I thought about that. It is good to remember that wherever we go, we really are not alone. We really are always "us". There are angels surrounding us, and Jesus Himself is within every believer. I suppose it *seemed* like it was just a small gathering, but in reality, the legions of Heaven itself were crowded around us, and always are. That is something to truly be thankful for.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.




















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