More Than a Day of Thanks

 

Thanksgiving is more than a day of food and family—it’s a day of prayer. For the believer, gratitude is a sacred act of worship.

Even though Thanksgiving is still a little more than two weeks away, I’ve already started prepping for the meal. There’s something peaceful about working ahead—chopping, baking, and planning—so that when the big day comes, I can rest, relax, and truly enjoy my family while they’re here. I don’t want to spend the whole day stuck in the kitchen and miss the real joy of the gathering.

As I prepare, God often brings someone to mind. Even when my hands are covered in butter or dough, I pause long enough to breathe a simple prayer. Those quiet, spontaneous moments of intercession have become one of my favorite parts of the season.

This year, my heart is especially tender. Several friends are facing cancer, and I find myself torn between gratitude for all God has done and compassion for those walking through pain. How do we celebrate when others are struggling?

Maybe the answer is this: we let our thanksgiving make space for prayer. We thank God for His goodness, even as we lift up those who can’t see it right now. Because gratitude and compassion are not opposites—they are threads of the same tapestry of faith.

This Thanksgiving, may our hearts be both thankful and tender, offering praise to God while holding others close in prayer. 🧡

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Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the blessings that fill our lives, both big and small. As we gather around our tables, help us remember those who can’t celebrate as easily this year. Wrap Your arms around the ones who are hurting, sick, or weary.
Teach us to be people of gratitude and compassion—to give thanks not just for what we have, but for Who You are. May our hearts overflow with kindness, our homes with peace, and our prayers with love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Real food? Really?!

Today was the first day in about 67 days that I've been able to have real food. It was a huge challenge and took a good while to get one sandwich down but I'm thankful. 

We found this cute little Panini press at Hobby Lobby on sale for $7.99. So I bought it thinking I would give it to one of the grandkids for Christmas but when the gastroenterologist told me I could try to eat some real food today, I pulled it out and made grilled cheese sandwiches for my husband and I. 

It's been so hard living on protein shakes for the past couple of months. After the hiatal hernia repair and the stay in the emergency section of the hospital, my appetite was completely gone. 

Yesterday I had my esophagus stretched for the fourth time in 2 years. I don't know what keeps causing it to close up but whatever it is causes a lot of problems. 

You don't realize how much you miss the taste of food and being able to chew until you're not able to do so. Though it took me half an hour to get that sandwich down, I was glad I was able to do it. It took a lot of teeny tiny bites and a lot of chewing but that grilled cheese never tasted so good! 

The doctor said it will take months for me to completely recover from the hiatal hernia repair and I won't be able to eat normally for a good while. He suggested I have several very small meals throughout the day, so I guess that's what I'll do. 

They did find a good many polyps when they were in there to do the esophageal stretch and that was concerning. My gastro took biopsies and sent them off but I won't know the results for about 10 days. 

10 seems like the number for me this year. 10 is the number of completion in the Bible, if you study Gematria. On July 9th, I will celebrate my 10th cancerversary, that's one reason I'm so concerned about the biopsies from these polyps. I would love to know before July 9th that I am still cancer-free. In the back of my mind I always have a gnawing feeling that cancer may come back again. It's especially concerning to me since my brother had esophageal cancer and we have a history of that in our family. Please keep me in your prayers in the days ahead. I will be most grateful.