Giving Thanks

The holidays are here! The holidays are here! Wow! Whether you are feeling panicked or excited it is time to prepare ourselves. Take a deep breath because here we go!
Usually Thanksgiving consists of going to my parents and gathering the family together to eat and have fun. We visit with cousins, aunts and uncles we don't see that often. My mother hosts it and asks everyone to bring something. I remember the last Thanksgiving both of her parents, my grandparents, were alive. I was pregnant and most of the smells I love were not so inviting to my olfactory senses.
I recall most of all my mother's near hysteria. She was worried about everything from the meal to my grandparents traveling alone. After one particularly stressful phone call, I sort of wanted to throttle her, at least verbally. Instead, God touched my heart to lift her up in prayer. I felt God telling me, "Remind her to concentrate on giving thanks instead of the stress of Thanksgiving."
I sent her a religious Thanksgiving card and told her that very thing. I even gave a few hints on what she should be thankful for like the health of all of her family members and the fact she'd be enjoying Thanksgiving with both of her parents. Alot of people don't get to share in that joy anymore. I don't know how much it helped but I tried to bring to light the positives.
Now, I need to remember that advice. I'm fine with Thanksgiving. I like to cook and my husband does too. He's a ton of help and so are our kids. But still, I can run into a panic. So, I remind myself to take more than a moment to give thanks. God is good. He loves us. He has blessed us. Richly. We may not understand Him. We may challenge Him. But He does have a plan. To prosper us and uplift us. We just have to trust Him. Not always easy but always right. Be thankful he's got your back unlike any other. Give thanks for that and everything else He's put on your plate this Thanksgiving. Make no mistake-it's there. Right next to the mashed potatoes.