Tonight was quite the night. Not only was there good turkey, but there were very good reminders. At the start of this week I had planned on writing a tumblr tonight about how this holiday is not about family or turkey or black friday as society has made it, but it’s about being thankful for what God has done.

Not surprisingly, God showed this to me today in a very real way. The first was getting to go to the Ott’s for thanksgiving dinner. What I enjoyed most about the night was not the food (although it was delicious), or the fellowship (although it was fun), but it was how the meal started. Gordon gathered everyone and had 4 people read about the first thanksgiving. He reminded us exactly what I had planned on posting about. This holiday is about God. It’s about how God was faithful to the pilgrims. He protected them through the voyage. He provided for them when they had nothing. He was always watching over them. For us, this is true as well. We just need to realize it like they did.

In a sense, this is how we should be all the time, but I think there’s something else special about this holiday. After reading the story, Gordon had us go around and share what we were thankful for. That’s what I think is special about this holiday. That we can get together to praise God and encourage one another by sharing how He has been faithful to us.

The second way that God showed me this was by reminding me of how He has been faithful to me. This began during dinner when I shared about how God has been faithful, specifically in showing me where He is leading me after college (although I didn’t actually share the second part). However, this grew as later in the night (or morning should I say), God reminded me of where I stood last semester. On the brink of spiritual death, but rescued by His grace and love. And really, it was Him who pulled me out of it.

I want to leave anyone who happens to read this with Ephesians 2:8-10.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”