THANKS in GIVING "This here kids, is a special turkey. I caught it myself."

Gotta love the feeling when the holiday comes around. We laugh, we cry, we hurl. Ok, it's not exactly a Wayne's World moment. It is funny though how something of almost a switch turns on right when Thanksgiving comes; as if the deepest sentiments of our hearts surface for these 30+ days out of the 365 days. Oh no, I have seasonal emotions! Just kidding.

For the past 15 years, Thanksgiving has been special for me. When my parents passed in 1990, it almost numbed my heart from feeling anything remotely resembling love, and making it much harder to "give thanks." By God's saving grace and provision, I have received love from both sides of my family, and made new friends whom I have walked life with both in and out of church/work. I always used to have these thoughts that if my relatives did not reach out to us, would I have gone to church? Would I have been a drop out, and not finish high school like my parents? What about my sister's fate? Would she accomplish what she has academically?

I am thankful cuz I can take these questions and run them over with my car over and over. For God's Spirit had said unto my spirit that "I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

If God were a store, He'd be "Restoration Hardware".

Thanksgiving for me is the ongoing story and journey of God's restoration work in my life. And I admit I still make some bad decisions here and there, but if the last 15 years has shown me anything, restoration is not far away. I give thanks because He has given me a renewed reason to give back. To give back to family. To give back to friends. To give back to those hard pressed. To give back to life, because it is important and it does matter.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to help out with a special Thanksgiving meal teen pregnant moms, coordinated by some friends from church, and another local church conducts this ministry. It was a great way to give time and good food to these teen moms, who are experiencing hard times.

After the event my pastor and I were able to bring some food to a homeless man, Rudolph ("like the reindeer" as he said). We asked him about where he stays, if he had shelter, what was difficult, and what we could pray for him for. He has been homeless for a little over 10 years. I told him about a weekly bruncheon at a local Catholic church in Brea, CA that if he had a way to get there, or was in the area, that he could count on food being there every week. I hope I see him there one of these days, when I go to serve.

So what does Thanksgiving mean to you? I know it's hard to write down, huh? Don't know where to start, what to say, and to say what you mean, not mean what you say. GOOD!! Use this time to get your thoughts together. Maybe its time for restoration for you too.

Have Thanksgiving from the wooster!!

(Note to self: don't mind the picture too much; I was just trying to find something random to get me in the mode to write.)