Count Your Many Blessings

One of my first Monday nights at Girls Brigade, some of the leaders mentioned that the Seniors would like to put together a Thanksgiving dinner to learn how to prepare some of the traditional dishes, earn an entertaining badge, and comfort me on a special holiday when I'm far from home. We spent several Monday nights planning the menu, the guest list, learning about Thanksgiving in general, and even making sweet potato casserole! The girls were surprised that sweet potatoes could actually taste so sweet.


Preparing for Thanksgiving with the Seniors and leaders Maragaret, Sarah, Kim, and Janice made me feel not so far from home. I got to learn Mom's recipes when I desperately emailed her for them before GB one night. I shared a bit of Southern American culture by cooking with the girls, a tradition that I have enjoyed in my family throughout my life. And even if trying out a new holiday still felt awkward to some of them and they turned up their noses at the cinnamon in the sweet potatoes, it was fun for me and it dulled my heartache a bit. All along it was obvious to me that the girls and the leaders were really putting a lot of effort and thought into the celebration and it humbled me that they would do something, try something different with such grace and generosity.

So tonight was the big night and when Doreen and I arrived we were seated and served sparkling juice (red or white) by the girls. The table was set and as the guests arrived we chatted and enjoyed the relaxed fellowship of pride in what our Girls Brigade Seniors were doing.




We were seated, with placecards even, and our starter of melon and orange was served.

The girls were our servers and the leaders had taken time off work to come in early and be sure everything was ready. All the guests were folks who helped out with GB in various ways and we were all gushing over how well the girls were doing in their service.

When I got up to take the picture above, Liz made a comment when she was asked to join the picture. I told her that for Thanksgiving you suck in for the pictures and wear your elastic pants. Well, there I go again, forgetting that pants are underwear. The whole table was in stitches and it took me awhile to realize that I wasn't really funny. So for the rest of the night, Raymond laughed with me and made jokes about his pants and elastic pants. He will forever be "Uncle Raymond with the pants" and I will never live that one down!

Throughout the meal we heard jokes, talked about our families, talked about what a typical Thanksgiving is like, and enjoyed each others company completely. Somewhere between the brussel sprouts or turkey, talking about the beauty of South Carolina or the enormous blessing of family reuniting in a holiday specially designed for thanks even before Christmas, I paused long enough to reflect that this new extended family of mine had created an evening of thanks that gave comfort and joy to my heart in a way that was truly humbling. They captured the true spirit of Thanksgiving. We talked and laughed, shared a meal prepared by loving hands, and gave thanks throughout the evening with fellowship and genuine friendship and love. At the end of the night, the girls brought me a Willow Tree Angel of Friendship and said that they hoped the night had been a blessing for me, since I was far from home on a special holiday. My eyes filled with tears and my heart was overflowing thinking of my new friends and the amazing night they had given to me, and to all present. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, humbled by the grace of God in surrounding me with incredibly caring people who reached out to me and joined in the joy of celebration.

They are my family, this church and all the people I have met in Belfast. Only three months away, and they are my family. They laugh with me and at me, they surround me with love and thoughtfulness, and they walk with me as I stumble to follow God's will and join His purpose here in Belfast.

I think of the spirit that always was so palpable in Old Stone Church on Thanksgiving Day or in our kitchen as we made dinner. The ache of homesickness won't go away during the holidays and I live with it most days. It helps me to talk to God like an old friend and it helps me to be reminded to look for the beauty and joy in each day. But I felt that spirit, the Holy Spirit, there with us tonight in the lounge at Whitehouse. Thanksgiving came to us today, on a Friday, with bluegrass hymns in the background, friends gathered, laughter shared, and for these and many other blessings, Lord I am truly thankful.

Finally, at my Grandmother's memorial service we sang "Count Your Many Blessings." I cried and laughed my way through the song, because my mother's maiden name is Blessing and the hymn was also a pun about the vast number of our family, the Blessings. I often count my blessings here in Belfast and mostly my journal entries are just lists of things that have made me happy. This day will truly go down as one and I pray for all of you that read this, that your Thanksgiving will truly be a celebration where you can count your many blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God has done!