Today, the kids woke up just as any other day, getting ready
for school with the same enthusiasm and challenges as usual. Isaiah couldn’t
find his sneakers, and groaned until he found them. The girls packed their
backpacks with all their belongings. Sofia hurriedly got her stuff together, as
she wanted to get some last minute reading in. Selah packed her backpack and
proclaimed excitedly: “It is library day today!” I smiled at her.
I am grateful that the kids pressed on today as usual.
However, there is a part of me that wishes something different for them, and us...
It is Thanksgiving today in America. I woke this morning with such a strong desire
to be in the house that I grew up in, in Sparta, Michigan, and smelling the
aroma of the turkey cooking in the basement oven. Thankfully, that memory will
never fade.
I also wish my wife and children could join me there, too,
with my whole family and other relatives, enjoying the smells and sounds of all
of us gathered together giving thanks and, along with the turkey, partaking of
such magnificent dishes as stuffing, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn,
rolls, etc., and topping it off with pumpkin pie with a dab of whipped cream on
top.
Then, after stuffing ourselves, we gather together munching
on snacks in the afternoon while playing board games and watching the Lions
probably lose. (I still haven’t gotten over the 1980 loss to the Bears many years
ago, when the Bears took the initial kickoff in for a touchdown in overtime.
Grrrr!)
Around sunset, the turkey and stuffing would be
pulled out of the refrigerator and we would partake, yet again, of these great leftovers.
We would also continue to play board games well into the evening with lots and
lots of laughter.
Oh, how I wish we could all be a part of that today.
Yet, there is another dimension to all of this...thankfully. I am thankful to be with my
wonderful wife and children here in Africa, thousands of miles from such
activity. Namely, because the Father has called us to this place, so that we
might be able to share good news with others in order that, one day, they, and
we, can be together for the most spectacular feast of all:
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
(Revelation 19:6-9 ESV, emphasis mine)
This is our calling, and we are pressing on, much like our children did today getting ready for school, longing for that day when we will be joining our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of the faith, while our Lord welcomes us into the greatest of thanksgiving fellowships ever!
So, I am thankful today. I hope you are, too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
