November brings different things to different parts of the country. Here in East Tennessee, we get falling leaves, Volunteer and Titans football, and lots of food. The “lots of food” part is especially widespread across the US. Every year on that momentous Thursday, family and friends gather around the table to eat, while outside, turkeys that are still alive count their blessings. We usually forget that Thanksgiving is a meal set aside for the purpose of giving thanks and not just gorging ourselves. Over the past few weeks, I asked friends, family, and acquaintances to send me brief stories from the last year of their lives that exhibit thankfulness. I’d like to share a few of these with you in hopes that you will be reminded to count your blessings at the table this year.

In retrospect I can say that in November 2008 I was living in a fool’s paradise. I was happily taking day trips, enjoying get-together lunches or dinners with old and new friends, Christmas shopping, and looking forward to a winter in Florida. Little did I know that a number of health issues were surreptitiously waiting in line to take turns invading my ‘paradise.’ The past six months have been challenging and are still presenting difficulties with which I must deal daily.

Thankful? Certainly! I have more to appreciate than bemoan. First I have the assurance that the Lord, Jesus Christ, is beside me every step of the way, and at my prayerful request has given me complete peace through each situation. I received a wonderful reminder of this when I awoke from surgery and looked at the door of my room and found the room number was the same as my number at church. He couldn’t have been any more in communication if He had spoken aloud. I am thankful for a wonderful, loving family, for the many people who have and continue to pray for my daily welfare and complete recovery. I am also thankful for the things I CAN do and they are still many. – Jean, Michigan

I guess the biggest deal for us this last year has been that I started having back trouble last October. Three surgeries, lots of prayer, and help from family and friends, and almost a year later I am on the mend. God has shown His sovereignty, grace, and love in uncountable ways.
– Meghan, Tennessee

Last November found us attempting to distinguish between shades of yellow from the seemingly thousands available at Home Depot and Lowes. Translating the hue of tiny paint placards to the four walls of a room is an art not easily mastered. I'd like to think that was the reason we had some six different yellow splotches in the room before ultimately choosing one. Hadn't thought much about it since, but the dining room conversion to master bedroom fortunately went better than expected. It's a good thing too because it was going to happen whether we liked the result or not since we needed to make room for our greatest transition of the past year – the addition of our son Sam. We certainly have much to be thankful for!
– Martin, Tennessee

In November of 2008, my wife and I were still in shock over the news that we were expecting our second child. Our little girl is five months old, and we’re enjoying the American “ideal” of having one girl and one boy. I hope that by reading these testimonies of thanks you have been reminded of some goodness and grace in your own life over the past year. Take some time between bites this Thanksgiving to share something in which you are truly grateful...