Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)

As a child, my family would load up in the car and either drive across town to my grandparents’ house for Thanksgiving or drive several miles into the country to eat with my one of my dad’s siblings. No matter which side of the family we gathered with, my brother and I always had plenty of cousins to play with.

When we got a little older, we were invited to play games like Scrabble and Rummikub with the adults. Occasionally, my brother would take time out from watching the football game to start a round of Clue, his favorite board game, with anyone he could convince to play. My grandma especially loved to play with him. A few times over the years, friends dropped by late in the day as they headed home from their own Thanksgiving celebrations and played games with us.

I’m thankful for the memories of Thanksgivings spent with family and friends, many of whom have now passed on. Though we’re scattered far and wide now, we have memories (and Facebook) to keep us close. I’m thankful for those who, such as my grandma and my parents, have shown me who Jesus is as they live out his example each day. And I’m thankful for Jesus, the one who makes all of this possible. I’m thankful that he sacrificed his life for mine so that I could live forever in him. He is the ultimate blessing and the reason for this season.

Dear Jesus, thank you for wonderful memories of holiday get togethers. The pandemic has changed things this year and made time with family and even more precious. I pray you will comfort those who have lost loved ones or who may be separated from their family. Help us remember that you are always near. Amen.