Thanksgiving Thoughts

"Therefore," Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat..." I will admit that the thought of roasting a turkey intimidates me. It may stem from the memories that I have of my mother getting up in the middle of the night to prepare the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven, making sure that it would be perfectly done and on the table on time. I would go back to sleep in great anticipation of the delicious meal as the aroma of the freshly made dressing tickled my nose. Or maybe I'm insecure because I don't trust the little button that is supposed to pop up when the turkey is done. And what about the dressing? I don't want my guests to get food poisoning because I've improperly handled the stuff! And so, in the years that Larry and I have been married, we've dined on chili and crackers at our Thanksgiving table!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat..." The harvest has been slow going for many who have been battling the rain and the inevitable mud. I don't see the grain wagons waddling down the street with the frequency that I usually do. But Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about what you will eat..." I don't know about you, but I've learned something today: that God will provide in abundance. And so I think that I'm ready to prepare that turkey, a spiritual turkey, that is. I will get up in the middle of the night to prepare the stuffing, the aroma of grace tickling my nose. I'll make sure that the heavenly bird gets in the oven of mercy so that it is done on time and ready to put on the holy table in the kingdom of God. And about the handling of that stuff called sin, Jesus will make sure that we are not poisoned with worldly things. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat..." for the abundant love of God is what will nourish our souls and sustain us for the journey called discipleship. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring troubles of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Scripture quotes from Matthew 6:25-34