His Love Endures Forever

With hearts filled with anticipation, we enter the week of Thanksgiving. Along with the pumpkin pie making and turkey baking, there will be precious conversations and joyful reunions. Our grandchildren are nearly all adults (plus three teenagers). Gathering is so interesting as we catch the interactions of the cousins. They are not all like-minded, but individuals with a plethora of interests and studies. Thank You, God! 

So often I am in the kitchen so I miss the conversations that happen downstairs in the family room, or around the pool table. But what a delight to hear them banter in the living room or at the dining room table. Food always brings us together. Thank You, God!

There are favorites at the Thanksgiving "buffet". Most would say the homemade noodles are number one, followed by the Stewart family tradition of lamb that will accompany the turkey. There will be other favorites like a bing cherry salad my mother always made, an overnight lettuce salad, and a pistachio pudding dessert that my sons love. Thank You, God, for our food.

There was also a tradition (for only a couple of years) of a Stewart Thanksgiving race, down our cul-de-sac's street. Grandpa provided an incentive for the winner ($) the second year, but there were no takers last year. We have two former cross-country runners in our midst and one middle school speedster ready to take on any challengers. Most of us just watch the race, thankfully no one has been injured. Thank You, God!

Our meal always begins with a prayer of Thanksgiving, with the youngest to oldest order of filling our plates. Dessert usually happens a few hours later after dinner has a chance to settle. There will be pumpkin pie, of course, an apple pie, lemon ice cream from Ev's in Marshalltown, and the pistachio dessert. Thank You, God!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the Lord of Lords. His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1-4 NIV).

Thank You, God, for all things, especially families this week. We are thankful that Your Love endures forever! We thank You for time together, and we especially pray for our family members who can't be with us this Thanksgiving. Please keep families safe as they travel, and bless our families with peace and Your enduring love. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.