Savor the Season
"Taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
I am a steelworker's daughter who grew up without a lot of established family holiday traditions. We celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving, of course, but not usually with extended family and "an every year, this is the menu you can count on" tradition. For us, holidays meant Daddy working at least one, sometimes two, shifts and getting paid at time and a half or double time hourly pay. As a result, our own family meal flexed around Daddy's rotating schedule and whatever Mama wanted to fix. My most vivid childhood Thanksgiving memory is oddly enough having a hotdog at Legion Field during a high school Crippled Children's Clinic game! It seems really strange to me now, but both of my parents were Great Depression survivors who never forgot the value of a job and paycheck.
Bruce and I began dating when we were in high school. I began attending his family Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations when we were in college. One of the biggest blessings of our marriage was the anticipation of having a gathered family tradition and knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what our menu would be. Each year I know that we'll have turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, squash casserole, green beans, asparagus, and plenty of desserts. And mid afternoon, my punch bowl comes out and we have "Mee-Maw" punch, a non-alcoholic slushy Kool-Aid, pineapple juice, and ginger ale concoction handed down by Bruce's grandmother and the ladies of Pratt City Presbyterian Church. And though these women have been dead for almost fifty years, their delicious punch recipe continues to live on to refresh- and unite- four generations of Evans. Thanksgiving for me is all about gathering around family and good food, making memories with both.
That's why this Thanksgiving is a little different, and dare I confess, harder personally. Our youngest son isn't coming home for Thanksgiving and our daughter's family is celebrating with her husband's family. So yesterday morning standing in a long line at Honey Baked Ham at 7AM, I found myself grumbling at my long cooking "to do" list instead of being grateful for the 23 people who are coming to our house. It was only 7:15 when I left the store, yet I was already cranky, impatient, and feeling a little sorry for myself. I decided to stop at Panera and treat myself to a cup of hazelnut coffee and a cinnamon crunch bagel. And instead of getting both "to go," I opted to take a few minutes, sit, and eat inside the restaurant. I chose a table by the window and took a deep breath before starting to eat. As I looked out the window, I saw it.
Sometimes God speaks to us through His Word, but sometimes He speaks to us through everyday ordinary objects. God used a burning bush with Moses and a donkey with Balaam to deliver important messages. Yesterday God used a Zoe's sign that read "Savor the Season." I literally laughed out loud as I drank my coffee. "Savor the Season" quickly resonated in my heart yesterday as I realized it was/is God's word to me, not just for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but also for this season in my life. Throughout the day as I prepared the many items on my menu, the words "savor the season" came to my heart and mind. As I washed the eighth sink of dirty dishes, the words "savor the season" quelled my complaints.
Mid-morning Bruce unexpectedly surprised me with a visit from our three-year old granddaughter Caroline. My first thought was "I don't have time for this today," but one look at Caroline's sweet face reminded me to savor the season. The twenty minutes that I rocked and quieted a three year old who was missing her sweet Mama was the best 20 minutes of my day. Throughout the day and into the evening God's words gently reminded me to savor this season of life and love.
The word savor means to "taste and enjoy it completely." Wherever we are today, may we savor the season of God's abundant goodness and grace.
Happy Thanksgiving and Savor the Season!
Amen and Amen!
Donna
Category: Gratitude
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