Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving...a special day, or a way of life? I think it is both. As a follower of Jesus, I pray that thanksgiving to the Lord and giver of life, is a way of life for me. Ipray that it comes natural to me, even in tough times. For, I can always be thankful for God's mercy and grace and love. I am thankful for the life He has given me and the place where He has put me to serve Him a ways I could never imagine. I am thankful for the people amongst whom I live. I am thankful for so many things that I would miss whilst living in the US. I doubt if I would be thankful for hot and cold running water. Or electricity at the flip of a switch. Or climate control..air conditioning and heat. Or lovely rest rooms on the Interstates, just to name a few. 

But, it is good to have a day of thanksgiving, too. To be with family and friends. To remember our faith and our history. and, to share with one another our thankfulness to God for our many blessings.

In Ghana, yesterday was just another workday. There are no other Americans here with whom I could celebrate, the closest one had to work. So, it is very good that I consider thanksgiving a way of life. My Thanksgiving Day did not include blood family, or friends from across the sea or turkey and dressing and green bean casserole or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My day included: 

Getting up at 4:30 in the morning, making tea, having Bible study and quiet time, hand washing "unmentionables", meeting with the pastor, meeting with the pastor and Razak, making no-bake cookies, driving to Kalsagri to pick up a financial book, updating/reviewing Kalsagri's finances, eating left over pizza for lunch, getting information on the new way Methodist Church Ghana is going to collect revenue from the churches, visiting with a few people in town, working in the pantry...beginning to organize it better, decorating small for Christmas, checking emails, going to Ghana Post, visiting a Peace Corps worker in Kalsagri who was teaching school (since it was not a holiday here), making some Christmas cards and eating wings and cauliflower and watching "White Christmas."

It may not seem like a lot to you. Trust me, in 97 degree heat, it was. My ministry is very relational, so it is important to check in with people. As I did, I shared with them the holiday. It was nice. So, Thanksgiving was celebrated without turkey, without stuffing, without pumpkin pie (which I don't like anyway.) Thanksgiving was celebrated with a thankful heart to the One who has given me His all.