Thanksgiving Time to Remember, Meditate, and Ponder
I hope you’ll join me today for a brief reflection about taking a few moments this Thanksgiving season to remember, meditate, and ponder.
I love words. One of my prayers daily is that the Lord will help me use words in ways that bless and build up. (I’m not always successful, just ask my husband!)
One of my pet words is ponder, which means to consider carefully or examine thoughtfully. I enjoy thinking deeply. My mom often chided, “Susie, you think too much!” Perhaps she was correct, but I don’t plan to stop pondering anytime soon.
Even though it seems to have crept up way too quickly this year, Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Thanksgiving is a great time to think deeply, and this year, I turned to a psalm of David to help me.
Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old.”
I have recalled stories of the first Thanksgiving I heard about in elementary school when Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribal members shared a peaceful, celebratory meal. Exchanges between Pilgrim immigrants and native peoples were not always amicable, and as an adult, I sometimes ponder historical complexities of the nation I love.
Holidays can conjure up both positive and negative emotions concerning family activities. Thanksgiving remembrances always bring warm thoughts of my dad who prepared our Thanksgiving turkey. Up at the crack of dawn, Dad ground together all the ingredients of his family-famous stuffing. I can still feel the sting of tears from ground onions, the tickle in my nose from black pepper, and the earthy aroma of sage.
“I meditate on all you have done.”
Not all my days have been easy and pleasant. Not all my relationships have been amicable. The history of my life, probably like yours, has been filled with lots of complexities and mistakes. As I peer into the rear-view mirror, however, my pondering often takes me to God’s faithfulness. This Thanksgiving, I will meditate upon what God has done and how God, with infinite mercy and grace, has woven together every lovely, coarse, and tattered thread into a meaningful mosaic of me.
“I ponder the work of your hands.”
Oftentimes, in our early-morning conversations, my husband and I express the gratitude we feel for the comfort of our warm-in-winter and cool-in-summer home. As we ponder the work of God’s hands, we always express thanks for the bounty of God’s provision.
Yesterday, Ron and I met up with our daughter, Sarah, so she could help her “digital immigrant” mama with some technology problems. As I ponder the privilege of spending time with family, I realize I am pondering the work of God’s hands, who blessed me with two daughters, five grandkids, and a precious great grandson.
There are so many other “work of God’s hands” on which I am pondering and giving thanks.
I know this is a very busy week. Perhaps like me, shopping and to-do lists are scrolling through your brain. Will you join me, though, in carving out some time to remember, meditate, ponder, and give thanks for God’s abundance!
Blessings as we pause to ponder,
