Thanksgiving is becoming one of my favorite holidays of the year. It is a time when all family members get together for a meal . . . not just a meal but a feast. We are looking forward to this year as we host all our children, Helen’s brother and sisters and their families. We will hold our repast at the pond house.

You have probably heard me write about the pond house before, but to refresh your memory, it is a 15x80 trailer with a 30x30 meeting room attached. That 900 square ft. room will seat about 60 people at the tables there.

In all that this country has been through this year we still all have much to be thankful for. We have plenty to eat, a roof over our heads, good automobiles, and a good church to attend. God has really blessed us all.

We will all begin assembling at the pond house early Thanksgiving morning and I will “help” my oldest son Freddy as he prepares to fry the turkey. That has become a tradition . . . fried turkey. If you haven’t tried it, I believe you would like it.

When I say help Freddy, actually I will try not to get in the way. He places it in a big pot filled with oil (usually peanut oil) and it will be placed over an LP gas burner for several minutes until it is done.

Freddy said he would do the turkey for Thanksgiving, but he most certainly wasn’t going to do it for Christmas. Maybe I can get one of the other sons to do it.

Just think about it . . . most of us will have all kinds of food on the table on that day, because we can go to the grocery store and find it.

Those first pilgrims who observed their first Thanksgiving didn’t have much of a choice, but they prepared the best they had.

It is good to enjoy the great food, but the most important thing we should do on this important day is to give our heartfelt thanks to God for all the blessings that He has given us.

I know there are some in our midst that have more than others. But even the very poor can still enjoy this day, as people come forth and see that everyone is fed a good meal.

Let’s not just thank God on Thanksgiving Day, but let’s do it every day. Thanksgiving Day is just a day to bring it to the forefront.

I can recall Thanksgiving Day for as long as I can remember. My mother would have chicken and dressing, even if she didn’t have a turkey. And she would prepare those delicious sweet potato pies with the pecans on top. There would be all kinds of vegetables, macaroni and cheese and it would be topped off with big glasses of iced tea and cups of coffee.

Helen and I have been trying to lose some weight, and I know that Thursday will put a dent in our efforts, and we will have to pledge anew when the holidays are over. But I plan to partake of the various goodies that Helen and the daughters-in-laws and sisters and brothers will have prepared.

Above it all, the greatest blessing of the day will just be the gathering together. Where we can visit with each other and just enjoy the fellowship.

Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, and may God continue to bless us all.