Is it really time for Thanksgiving? I am not sure if I am ready for what comes after Thanksgiving, but my mouth is watering for Thanksgiving dinner. My wife and I were talking the other day about all the places we’ve been on Thanksgiving. We try our best to catch up with family and enjoy some delicious food.

When I was growing up there would always be a huge gathering of family and friends at our house. The house would be full of people sitting everywhere enjoying fun, laughter, games, football, and more food than you could imagine.

For many of my married years, we have eaten the big meal at my in-law’s house. A few of those years, my grandmother was invited over to enjoy the feast. She talked the rest of her life about the spread my mother-in-law puts out each year. My two favorite things are her dressing and sweet potatoes.

I am looking forward to a few days off work and some good food. My favorite thing to do after enjoying Thanksgiving dinner and helping to clean up is to grab the paper and look through all the sale papers. I love looking at the ads and dreaming of Christmas. Let everyone else go out and fight the crowds.

I believe the most important part of Thanksgiving is actually taking time to reflect on all the good things in our lives. We serve an awesome God, who blesses us in more ways than we can count. This is a time we can slow down and take the opportunity to thank God for all the ways He blesses us.

The best place to begin is with your family. I am blessed to have good parents who did the best they knew how to raise me. I have a great brother who endeavors to make lifetime memories with family and friends. I am blessed with two of the best sisters a guy could ever hope to have in his life. Then there are all my nieces and nephews who have grown and started to have families of their own. I consider myself to be blessed to have great in-laws who have welcomed me into their family with open arms. There are so many wonderful relatives on my wife’s side of the family that make me feel a part of their family.

When I consider all my many blessings including the blessing of our beautiful home, I am so grateful. If you have been a reader, you know how much we enjoy our yard, flowers, and vegetable garden. I often sit outside and take in the beauty and whisper a prayer of thanksgiving.

It is hard to imagine life without friends. I have friends who have helped me move; those are real friends. I have friends in my personal and professional life that I highly value. True friends stand with you through thick and thin. I treasure them and thank God for them. My church family means so much to me. I think about my pastors and men who have mentored me and I am so thankful for all they have poured into my life. I am very thankful for all the people who have added such rich flavor to my life.

When I look back on my whole life, I am the most thankful that Jesus came into my life. He gave me hope when I felt hopeless. He loved me when I felt unloved. He forgave and continues to forgive when I miss the mark. He gives me wisdom when life feels complicated. He gives me guidance as I seek His face. He provides for me so I never lack any good thing. He hears my prayers and intercedes with the Father on my behalf. He gives me peace while the world seems to be falling apart. He gives me joy. He’s healed my body, restored my soul, and renewed my spirit. He is my brother and my absolute best friend. I am so thankful that He is preparing a place for me to spend eternity with Him.

I want to encourage you to spend some time over the holiday weekend thanking God for all the ways He has blessed you. I know some of you are facing difficult times, but do your best to thank God for His many blessings. I believe God’s heart is drawn to a thankful heart. When you find yourself lost in His presence, every need will be met. I pray that you and those you love will have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Contact Doug at doug@dougcreamer.com