Dear Lord,

You have blessed my life with seventy Thanksgivings. So many memories filled with joy from those family gatherings. My mother and grandmother ‘round the stove with their aprons tied in bows.  My brother and I waiting patiently for the turkey and mashed potatoes.

Dad was always stealing food from the kitchen, and I was always telling mama when he did.  What a life I had as their youngest kid!  We clasped our hands and said our prayer.  And, we thanked you, Lord, our grandparents were there.

So, Lord, I thank you for those wonderful folks who I will always adore. How could I have been blessed with anything more?

In a few years, there were three little children added to our table.

Thanksgiving became busy, wonderful and I was so grateful.

The morning would start with these little three glued to the console TV.  They loved the balloons from all the cartoons, but when Santa arrived in his sleigh, well, that is what started our holiday!

Family crowded our table with children in tow.  More mamas ‘round the stove with their aprons tied in bows. Daddy was still stealing food from the kitchen, but I no longer told mama what morsels were missing.

We would laugh at family stories with a mighty roar; though Granddaddy had gone through heaven’s door. The rest would clasp their hands and pray, wishing he was still there on those Thanksgiving Days.

So, Lord, I thank you for those tiny girls and one little boy, plus the family who I will always adore.  How could I have been blessed with anything more?

Years would pass, and the children grew.  Soon there would be a friend at the table or maybe two. Now, one less mama was in kitchen with her apron tied in a bow.   We held our hands and thanked you, Lord, missing our Grandma’s love and laughter more than many would know.

So, Lord, I thank you for those angels on high who I will always adore.  How could I have been blessed with anything more?

Holidays became quieter after my brother passed away. Daddy left soon right before another Thanksgiving Day. We stood in the kitchen with our aprons tied in a bow, counting on you to keep our heads from hanging too low.

The children, now grown, had scattered to places of their own.  Friends gathered for our meal assuring us we would never be alone.  You sat our table and we clasped your hand.  We thanked you Lord, for we knew our grief you would understand.

So, Lord, I thank you for the friends who I will always adore. How could I have been blessed with anything more?

Thanksgivings in recent years, have been a mix of joy and tears. We have had some days that filled us with fears.  Now, there is one less mama in the kitchen with her apron tied in a bow. She left for heaven; she was ready to go.

How thankful I am for my mama who always loved Thanksgiving Day, and taught us all how to clasp our hands and pray.

So, Lord, I thank you for the mother who I will always adore. How could I have been blessed with anything more?

I look back on my seventy Thanksgiving Days and I knew there was a guest at my table that would never go away. He watched those in the kitchen with their aprons tied in a bow, and held our hands when some had to go.  He loved us through it all as he held us tight, and listened to our prayers each day and night.

He gave us bounty and beauty, family and friends, freedom and hope and love that knows no end.

So, Lord, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there right from the start.  The years may come and go, but I know somewhere there is a mama in the kitchen with her apron tied in a bow.   

How could I be blessed with anything more?

With love,

Lynn