THANKSGIVING

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

Thanksgiving Day started early for me as I left home shortly after 7:30 a.m. to help with Cherokee Thanksgiving which our church hosts. The free meal is served to the community and delivered to the elderly, shut-ins, emergency workers and families without transportation.

The all-volunteer effort fed 75 people during its inaugural year in 1992. This year organizers are expecting to feed about 1,650 people. My job was to assist over a dozen people pulling turkey meat off the birds. Others were preparing the side-dishes, setting the tables, putting together delivery boxes, and getting ready to dispatch drivers.

I returned home about 11 a.m. to help Cissy with any last minute preparations for our meal. This year most of our family joined us to eat at noon on Thanksgiving Day. The Thursday group sat around after lunch. Some examined the store sale flyers in the newspaper; there was some wrestling; and a little dancing.

After most everybody had gone home, Cissy had a rest time. Evan and I played some basketball to renew our old rivalry. Each of us tried a little trash talk, trying to psyche out each other.

Seth and Haley and kids arrived on Friday afternoon after being in Texas for the last week. We had a good second round of feasting. The weather was pretty after eating, so we spent some time down by the creek. We played in the sand, tossed a football and frisbee, sailed off to faraway galaxies in the swing, played tag, and even retrieved a football out of the creek by dangling Olivia by her feet (after her mother proved too big to handle).

Cissy and Haley took off to the movie theater, while the rest of us watched a DVD at home. The day ended with a meal at Chic-Fil-A.