Thanksgiving Day Thoughts...

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, is one of my favorite days for a couple reasons.  The first being that my oldest daughter was actually born on Thanksgiving Day.  Now, THAT day was an adventure.  The second being, I love me some turkey, my mamma's cornbread dressing and, of course, cranberry sauce!!  

This year was different though.  As I prepared my 2 dishes Thursday morning to bring to the Thanksgiving Day feast at my sister-in-law's house, I kept thinking about those precious children in Africa.  I wonder what they would do to celebrate Thanksgiving Day (if it were celebrated there)?  When I visited Mozambique a couple years ago, I saw something that I hope I will never forget!  These kids carried their bowls and utensils around in bags so that they would be prepared to eat when a meal was available.  They carried these bags around as if they were treasures (and to them they certainly were).  For many, this meal served at the care point is their only meal of the day.

Later that day, as I stood in the kitchen looking at all of the food we had each prepared to eat (and what a spread it was!) I wondered what those precious children would do if they saw it?  Would they be more thankful than we were for this grand meal?  Would they be mad because we wasted so much food?  The saddest part was (as all 16 of us stuffed ourselves) we could do this every day if we wanted.  We have the luxury, and yes, I do mean luxury, of eating:  what we want, when we want, how much we want...

This year I am most thankful that God decided to put me right here, right now.  We in America don't know poverty like these kids know it, and if we did, I'm sure our outlook would be different.  We'd all shop differently for Christmas gifts.  We'd all be grateful for things we don't think twice about.  I am so grateful that my children and grandchildren will not have to carry around bags with bowls and utensils as they play.  Thank You Lord that You put us right here, right now.  What made You decide to put each of us in this place & time?  Now, the big question, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THIS? 

Happy Birthday Renee!

20 years ago tonight, Doug and I were in a panic for the nursery  worker to come to our room. Please God, don't let this baby start crying before the nurse comes in.  What do we do if she does start crying?  What is taking them so long?!   Somehow, all of our company managed to leave the room at the same time, and there we were holding our new baby and clueless!  No earthly idea what to do with this new gift we had.  To make matters worse, it was Thanksgiving Day, and I was craving some serious turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce.  No such luck.  The only thing on the menu that day would be roast with rice & gravy.  The only turkey we'd have was wrapped in a white blanket with pink and blue stripes on it.  What a day it had been.  We were so excited and scared to death at the same time!

As I think back on that day, I had no hint of what a blessing we had wrapped in that tiny blanket.  Those little eyes just observing the new world it came into, finally putting faces with the voices.  As we sat there that night, we didn't know all of the joy she'd bring into our lives.  The stories she'd share with us.  The dances we'd help her get ready for.  The teeth we'd help her pull, and the bike, skates and car we'd teach her to ride and drive.  The accomplishments we'd have the opportunity to celebrate with her.  And most of all, the granddaughter she'd bring into our lives.  WOW!  I am so thankful for all that God has done in her/our lives...especially for our amazing daughter; one divine interruption on Thanksgiving Day 1988.  

Renee:

What a true blessing you are.  We are so proud of you.

We love you!!  Happy Birthday!

God, bless her in a way that only YOU can!  Protect her every step and guide her path.  Provide all of her needs and keep her healthy!  Lavish her with Your love and give her happiness and peace that only You can bring!  I thank You for blessing me with such an amazing daughter and friend!  May she be so lucky with her own daughter. 

Not my responsibility?

Tonight my ego was a little bruised.  I guess that's what you call it.  I totally wasn't paying attention to what I was doing (something I would certainly have fussed at my kids for when they were younger) as I dropped a glass candle in the middle of a store for the entire Christmas shopping crowd to hear and see.  It was as if the store went completely silent 2 seconds before impact!  As I stood there thinking "I am so embarrassed!!", the sweetest clerk ran over to make sure I was ok and survey the damage.  I was trying to pick up the pieces very carefully so no one around me would get cut, and the clerk insisted she would clean it up.  I apologized profusely and helped point out where the glass flew to.  As she swept up my mess (that I should have cleaned), I told her I would definitely pay for the candle.  She insisted it was no big deal and that it wasn't necessary.  Pile on even more guilt!

After regaining my composure, I continued to look around for any bargains for 30 minutes, and then to proceed to pay for "my bad" and a few other things.  Get this:  The clerk would not allow me pay for my own mistake.  I have never dropped anything like that, and I've never seen a store not let you pay for something that you broke.  She just said it wasn't my place to pay for it.  Hello?  I broke it!

Random thoughts:  .....Then on the way home I started thinking about Jesus.  I owed something for my mistakes, my bad choices, my lack of thinking, my sin that I didn't and still don't have the resources or ability to repay.  And I never will.  I needed someone to pay it for me.  I needed a bailout, a backer!  Jesus had to step in my place to pay for my sins so I could be forgiven; only no one 'forgave Him' of the price that was due for my sin.  It wasn't His place to pay for it, but He did.  He paid it and paid it in FULL too!  There isn't anything I could do or pay now or in the future to begin to cover my bill.  

PAID IN FULL is all that I see. 

How fortunate I am...how fortunate we all are!    

Jesus, thank You so much for paying my bill in full.  Thank you for showing up, plucking me out of my mess, cleaning me up and giving me a second chance (and third and fourth and ...).  I appreciate everything You've done for me so very much!  I owe You more than I can ever begin to repay.  May I never ever forget or become immune to what You have done for me.  May it be the fuel that spurs me on for life!    

Sparkle Mixer

The Sparkle Blog has been updated with the November Mixer info.  

If you need more details, you can email one of the leaders at sparklehpc@gmail.com.  

See you chicks Friday!!