Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving 2023 found us in Holland, MI where we spent several days at my brother’s home. It was a wonderful time to reflect upon God’s goodness amid many laughs. I found it hard to believe that my father was with us for another holiday. Although he was sleepy at times, he did participate and requested a family photo.

My assignment included certain food items but also a Thanksgiving devotion, an easy homework task. God is good!

Snippets of Thanks- 2023

by Michelle Tuinstra

Vocabulary.com defines the word “snippet” as follows:

A snippet is a tiny piece. You might only have time to read a snippet of “Moby Dick” before your early English class — just enough to know it’s a book about a whale.

While a snippet can be a literal fragment of something, like a snippet of hair clipped off the end of your dog’s tail, the word is often used to talk about less physical bits. You may get a snippet of information by watching TV news with the sound turned off, or end your writing workshop with just a snippet of an idea for your screenplay. It comes from snip, with its Low German root snippen, “to snip or shred

In a little while, we can look at our dinner plates. Is your plate full of one main thing or are there snippets of many items?

While pondering this Thanksgiving devotional, I thought of snippets of thanks. Some are my own words and others are little bits or snippets of their thoughts.

• Taken from the Caring Bridge website, Lisa Fankfauser, a past member of our church, who has battled cancer since 2004……

“ I completed my final radiation treatment, improving my stats 8-0. I am extremely grateful for my care team. I have not experienced a single side effect from my treatments. I am extremely grateful for another birthday.”

• Written by Tim Van Soelen from CACE, the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education:

“ When it comes to gratitude, big things that matter are obvious. But the little things matter, too, don’t they? Since I am traveling, I will offer a quick example of a big thing- an upgrade from a basic room to a suite. Seemingly little- a bottle of water when checking in to the hotel. Both, big and little things– should make our gratitude lists.”

• The November 4 funeral of a Kansas friend, Diann, reminded me of thanks in a different way.  Her husband’s eulogy statement resonated with me. “ It’s not well with my soul today, but it will be.” In that statement, he acknowledged his sadness but still pointed to a time when he witnessed God’s faithfulness. He thanked God for would be in a better state because of what He was going to do. He also shared other statements of faith. “ God is going to use this.” Colossians 3: 17 “ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
• The most recent quote from John Maxwell was used for devotions at the school meeting:

“ The surest index of your spiritual and emotional well-being is the degree of gratitude in your life. Grateful people linger over life’s blessings.”

Last, I spent time rereading our Thanksgiving book, A Time to Remember, by Barbara Rainey. 

The Pilgrims caught sight of their final destination, a new land where God would be worshiped freely and – in time- where freedom would flourish. Shouting for joy and falling to their knees to pray, they celebrated by reading Psalm 100. 

Please join me in reading this Psalm.  We will end with a prayer. After you get your plates, please help me fill my book by telling me what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

As I wrote in the devotional, one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is reading parts of the book, Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember, by Barbara Rainey. You can write your thanks at the end of the book. Our book contains gratitude lists from everyone at our dinner table, starting in 2005! It’s a wonderful way to reflect upon God’s blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!