Giving thanks, 10,000 reasons

     

      "Bless the Lord, O my soul, Oh my soul. Worship His holy name. Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I'll worship your holy name. You're rich in love and you're slow to anger, you're name is great and your heart is kind. For all your goodness I will keep on singing, Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find."  

— Matt Redman    

     

     Sixteen family members and friends gathered around my thanksgiving table last weekend. 

     

     The turkey, ham and complimentary dishes were ready and awaiting us, as we all assembled in the family room to raise our voices in a YouTube medley of thanksgiving hymns. 

     

     Dave, my eldest son, (taking his Dad's usual place), led us in a prayer of thanks and a blessing on our food.

     The combined efforts of the various family members, made our laden table a blessing to behold.  

     

     Earlier, as guests arrived, each were asked to take a paper leaf from our thanksgiving tree and write on it one thing they were thankful for. 

Oldest daughter Karen (left) next-door neighbour Barbara and Beulah.

     

     Pausing, after our main courses, we shared the scripture verse of thanks that was already on our leaf, and our own special blessing we had written. 

     

     After recounting some of God's blessings, singing the above beautiful refrain of Matt Redman's, it seemed very meaningful to us. 

     

     Colossians 3: 15-16 exhorts us to "... let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... and be thankful,... as you admonish one another with all wisdom... and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."  

     We did just that!  

     

Beulah's older sister Merle (left), her son Richard, Tyler and Sarah Letourneau (son-in-law and daughter of Dave Eagles).

     

Beulah's next-door neighbour Barbara (left) and grandson Brayden (right).

     When it was my turn to share, I chose to offer us a moment of reflection, as I read from Hebrews 12:1-3. 

     



     
    
     
     "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... Consider him... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  

     

From left: Carolyn Eagles, her mother Marian Owens, Derek and Marjorie Harvey, Karen Osborne and Merle Robertson.

     Thanksgiving weekend is the time our family remembers the last one we had with Nels — now eight years since his passing. 

     For a few quiet and solemn moments, our memories took us back over the past years and months, as we mentioned the passing of so many of our family and friends. We felt this verse reminded us that they were "heroes of the faith" and inspiring examples for us, as we continue with perseverance 
"our race marked out for us... so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."  

     

     To honour Nels' memory, I shared a story entitled, Next Time We Meet. It was a treatise written by grandson, Nathan, as an English assignment in his Grade 10 year, shortly after his Grandpa Nels' passing.  

     Here are a few of his thoughts.  

     

     "We really don't realize how accustomed we get to having people around, until all of a sudden they're gone, and our eyes are opened to all the wonderful things they've done for their family." 

     "When my grandpa passed away, I never would have thought that one person could have so much love and care inside of them."... at that moment, all the memories I had of him, rushed through my mind... eight years old and planting flowers with him in the backyard — he'd dig the hole and I'd put the flower in and pat the dirt in around it... He would be the only one that would take your cup at the dinner table and hide it, seeing if you would notice... stories were told of how he made such a lasting impression on people when he met them — how people could see God in his eyes... I found all these things to be true... grandpa loved everyone he was around so much." 

     "He's gone and it's hard to accept, but he still lives on through me and my actions... All I want is that other people can see his love and faith when they look at me. I love you, grandpa, and I can't wait 'till the next time we see each other." 

     

     These thoughts remind us of the importance of how we live our lives daily, before others, and our influence, especially on the younger generation following us.  
     Nathan, those desired characteristics are becoming increasingly obvious in your life. Grandpa would be so proud of the young man you have become!

— beulah