Comic strip above by Lynn Johnston, For Better or Worse, 1993.

(Hearing about the lives of others can give us the perspective we need to be thankful.)

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From Both Sides of the Desk, by Tom Melchior, writing about lunchtime at a school in Puerto Rico that he taught at in 1959:

     Students passed through the lunch line and Chilo the cook dished out the day’s specialty.  Students could decline any part of the meal, but what they took they had to eat.  That was the school rule.  Nothing was to be wasted.

     Many of the students had never eaten spaghetti and meatballs.  Chilo’s spaghetti was fantastic, but the first times it was served for lunch, it was too new for most of the kids.  Many tried it, but ate no more than a forkful.

     The rule was that if you did not eat everything on your plate, you had to stay in the lunchroom until you did.  Two hours later, several students were still sitting there, unwilling to take another bite.  Finally, they were dismissed.

     That afternoon I saw Ramon on the playground.  “Ramon,” I said, “some of the guys had a hard time eating today’s spaghetti, but I noticed you had no trouble at all.”

     He said, “At home we eat grass.”

(We can be thankful today that we have enough to eat.  Not everyone does.)

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From Tortilla Flat, by John Steinbeck, 1935, pages 106-7:

     At about this time in California it became the stylish thing for school nurses to visit the classes and to ask the children about the details of their home life.  In the first grade, Alfredo was called to the principal’s office, for it was thought he looked thin.

     The visiting nurse, trained in child psychology, said kindly, “Freddie, do you get enough to eat?”

     “Sure,” said Alfredo.

     “Well, now.  Tell me what you have for breakfast.”

     “Tortillas and beans,” said Alfredo.

     The nurse nodded her head dismally to the principal.  “What do you have when you go home for lunch?”

     “I don’t go home.”

     “Don’t you eat at noon?”

     “Sure.  I bring some beans wrapped up in a tortilla.”

     Alarm showed in the nurse’s eyes, but she controlled herself.  “At night what do you have to eat?”

     “Tortillas and beans.”

     Her psychology deserted her.  “Do you mean to stand there and tell me you eat nothing but tortillas and beans?”

     Alfredo was astonished.  “Ay Caramba!” he said, “what more do you want?”

(I am thankful for the variety of food I will enjoy today.)

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     Claude Powell lived with his six children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  Just before school was to start, all of his children were in need of new shoes.  At the same time the washing machine quit working.  To top it all off, because of bad weather, his work had been reduced.

     He was able to manage the shoes, but had to run an ad for a used washing machine.  Someone did call and said they had one for sale.  Claude went to the home and found it filled with all the comforts anyone could ever want.  After agreeing of a price for the old washer, the conversation got around to children.  Claude commented on the challenge of raising six children, and keeping them all fed, clothed, and in shoes. The woman of the home suddenly got up and ran out of the room crying.  The father then explained to Claude that they had one child who had been paralyzed from birth, and he had never needed a pair of shoes.

     Claude later said, “When I got home I picked up the worn-out shoes, worn out from skipping rope, kicking rocks, and jumping puddles, and I went off to be by myself.  Kneeling by my bed, I gave thanks to God for all the worn-out shoes in our house.”

     (Are there any complaints in your life that could instead be a reason to give thanks to the Lord?)

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     The pastor was discussing parent-teenager problems with the youth group.  He asked them what they would do different when they were parents.  Most of the answers were no surprise.  “More freedom… less yelling… less work… fewer rules…” and on and on they went.  Finally, Mike, who had already lost his father and a step-father in car accidents, said, “I would hope I could be with them a little longer.”  He would have been grateful for that.

(We can be thankful for what we have not lost.  Life gives no guarantees.)

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Colossians 2:6-7  —  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15  —  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18  —  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:17  —  Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.

–Psalm 138:1a

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!