“Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go…” was originally composed as a Thanksgiving Day poem by Lydia Maria Child. It was published in 1844 in Flowers for Children, Volume 2. The original version stated that we were going to grandfather’s house. The poem was later put to music by an unknown composer. The song is often associated with Christmas because of the reference to snow, but when the poem was written in New England in the early 19th century, they were enduring a bitterly cold November with frequent snow storms.

The thought of traveling to your grandparent’s home for Thanksgiving is a cherished memory. The family gathering around the table for a turkey dinner and numerous other delectable foods brings to mind an image straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. If this is your memory from your childhood you are truly blessed with such fond remembrances. Unfortunately, not everyone has such fond memories from their childhood. For some this year, as the past several years, bring heartache because someone so cherished in their lives will be missing from the table. For some they will be unable to gather with family at Thanksgiving for various reasons. In such situations the idea of giving thanks is extremely difficult.

     The concept of giving thanks centers on your attitude beyond your situation or circumstance. Your attitude is completely under your control. It is the one thing that no one else or no circumstance of life can control, only you. An attitude of gratitude can alter your perspective of the events that take place in your life.

     Today as you consider pausing at noon to Bend-A-Knee in prayer (one day early) may you not ask God for anything for yourself or petition Him on behalf of anyone else, just simply give Him praise and thanksgiving. Praise Him simply for who He is, a loving, gracious, caring God, who is good all the time, in spite of whatever situation you are dealing with in your life. God is also worthy of our thanksgiving because of the numerous blessing we so often take for granted. God’s blessings extend beyond the temporal to the eternal. He has provided a glorious everlasting home for anyone who chooses to accept His offer of salvation from sin and death. May you be overwhelmed with praise & thanksgiving to God and cherish the opportunity to give glory to Him, this Thanksgiving and every day.

Stay connected to God & to others

God’s Peace,

Pastor Mike