Loving your children

Hi Ladies,
   Happy Thanksgiving!  It's coming up in just a week and I'm sure we are all thinking about the preparations we need to make.  I'm so excited that two of my "kids" are coming home for the holiday.  The third one will surely be missed!
    This gives me a sense of how important these celebrations are when you do have all of your children in the home with you.  Celebrations and traditions help to unite a family. They can become a chore and a trial at times with all that it takes to put together a family celebration but we can learn to pare things down and do things simply.  Let's desire that this holiday will help create a loving atmosphere in our family and wonderful memories for the future.
    Be sure to let the children help you with the preparations.  They can set the table, do some of the stirring of the various items you plan to serve, and they can even help with the cleaning of the house.
    In the end you will be thankful you backed away and let them do their part.  This year our two that are coming home have already asked if they can help.  One wants to make the side dishes and the other the pies.  My job will be to set the table and cook the turkey.  It will be a wonderful relief to have some help and to think they asked to do it!  I'm hoping someone will volunteer for the dishes....
    Perhaps you have a tradition that you enjoy at Thanksgiving.  I'd love to hear about it, so feel free to reply.Thanksgiving is a time to remember all the things we are thankful for.  What are you thankful for?  Your family, your friends, a home, food, or animals?  The list could get very long if we really took the time to think of all that we are thankful for.
    Are you thankful for a God that loves you so much He was willing to give His Son for you so you could be saved for all eternity?  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life."  John 3:16  Jesus lived, died, rose from the grave and has ascended to God's right hand.  He is there praying for those who love Him.
   I hope you know God, as you owe your very existence to Him and that you have accepted His Son.  He loves you so very much and desires a personal relationship with you, you are one of His favorites.  If you don't know Him personally let this season of Thanksgiving be the time you confessed to Him that you are a sinner, that you need a Savior, and that you believe His Son can cleanse you from those sins.
  May the Lord bless you and your Thanksgiving celebration!