It's 5am Thanksgiving morning. As I slowly wake up I'm thinking, no seed calls today, no trucking appointments, it sounds like it's raining so no field work. Maybe I'll just pull the covers up, roll over, and go back to sleep. Then I suddenly, fortunately, remembered. Jan had said the night before, don't forget to turn the smoker on when you get up early.
There were a least 40 of us for Thanksgiving dinner and yes, we had plenty to eat, a couple of turkeys, a couple of hams, and all the rest. Along with Jan and I, our kids, and our grandkids, my parents, and my brothers and their families came.
Some of you know what it's like. As you get older and your own family grows up you see less and less of the family you grew up with. I was blessed to grow up with both parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and a house full of foster kids. Remember what hand-me-downs were? We had little money however we kids didn't know or worry about that because I remember my parents always being grateful for something or to someone.
We have traditions today just like back when we were kids. No, it's not TV games. No, it's not touch football, however that sounds fun. Christmas is sledding if there is snow. New Years is racing motorcycles on the pond if there is ice. And Thanksgiving is playing Annie-Oklie or knockout with shotguns and clay-pigeons, even in the rain.
The grand-daughters take down Noah's ark and animals off the fireplace mantle and put up Grandma's nativity pieces also including animals. No girls, I don't think there were giraffes or elephants at the manger.
Becky and Brian's boys are decorating their Christmas tree by throwing ornaments in the tree and hoping they stick.
Jan and I attended a Sully tradition the evening before Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving the young peoples at Sully church challenge the church board to an athletic event, this year, volleyball. Fun was had by all including questionable officiating.
I'm not just thankful for family but also friendships this season. Appreciating and valuing others in our lives create an attitude that our kids and grandkids notice. Grateful people are way more fun to be around.
Because of a large family, the seed business, custom work, and our family cabin, we have the blessing of getting to meet, build relationships with, and sharing life with so many folks.
I'm thankful today for an occupation with steady work, a job that changes with the seasons, and the ability to work together on some things and independently on others.
I am thankful to be looking forward and planning for the next crop year already. God promises no matter what happens seedtime and harvest will never cease.
I am thankful we can still worship today freely and not just hear truth, but still have the freedom to put that truth into action by caring and sharing with those we rub shoulders with every day, and not just Sundays.
So in all our circumstances let's have an attitude of gratitude. Let's open our hearts before we open our wallets. Let's remember charity doesn't count if we don't understand the motivation. And finally as we start to enter the pre-tax season, if we only give just to get out of taxes, it's not really giving. Everything we have has been given to us by our Creator and He doesn't look at how much we give. He looks at how tightly we hang on to what we have left.
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