Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Enjoying a Less Than Perfect Thanksgiving Gathering


What do you think of when you think about Thanksgiving?

A Norman Rockwell setting?
A Waltons' Thanksgiving?
A disaster or battleground?

What if you don't feel so thankful about gathering with your relatives or a certain relative? Do you stress over pleasing them or feel irritated by them? Sadly that's the case for more people that we'd like to think. Unfortunately, not everyone has a loving family that serves our Lord. Most would say there is at least one in their family that makes holidays difficult. In fact, if you're a Christian, but you're not from a Christian family, you may be the one that makes the others uncomfortable. 

What if you're totally stressed out about getting a meal prepared and on the table not to mention all the preparations ahead of time? 


May I encourage you to use the preprayment plan? That's praying ahead of time for situations that are coming up. Search your Bible for a verse or two that you can focus your mind and heart on while you're visiting. Make it a verse that will help you keep the Shalom perfect peace of God in your heart. If you're at home, light a candle. Sometimes glancing at a candle flickering or enjoying the fragrance can help you feel more peaceful. Soft worship music playing in the background helps too— if you can get away with it. ~smile~


Keeping our focus on God and our reasons to be thankful can help us through as we pray to hold our tongues or give a hug or an encouraging word. 


Be blessed and don't fret dear ones!


Just something to think about...

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage!

Laura
Keeping it simple for our Savior


33 comments:

  1. Laura........what a wonderful suggestion. Thank you for leading us into the light. i do get anxious about everything...... We are all Thankful for you and your lovely blog. Happy Thanksgiving and you are always in my prayers.......dee

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  2. Well, let me tell you... 6 days into major surgery recovery, nothing is traditional this year... I'm not in the kitchen this year, there is no family gathering etc. And you know what, its OK.

    I'm sending you lots of love and gentle hugs my sweet friend. Many Happy Thanksgiving s to you and your lovely family. Many prayers for your recovery. Please excuse all misspellings, I'm pretty "doped up"😊.

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    1. I totally get that. One year I got out of the hospital on Christmas Eve! It had been a hard year and I didn't have Christmas money until 3 days before Christmas. My husband had to do everything. We didn't have Christmas dinner until the day after Christmas!
      Just relax and enjoy your day. Happy Thanksgiving dearie!
      Hugs,
      Laura
      who just typed her name wrong and had to retype it.

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  3. I love this post very encouraging. You are such an inspiration my friend. HUGS, Happy Thanksgiving!

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  4. Such a lovely thought, my friend.
    Thanks for inspiring.
    Hav a blessed and cozy Thanksgiving!

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    1. I hope yours is wonderful Billie Jo. We have much to be thankful for.

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  5. Laura I am the person people feel strange around. I do not drink, smoke, swear, and have very strong values. Now I do not judge mt family . I feel bad about their life style and what it does to them. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. You are one of my blessings and I pray for your continued health.

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    1. Hi, Those are the things about me that have made my extended family uncomfortable in times past. Thanks for your honesty, happy thanksgiving.
      Saying a prayer for your family now.
      Laura

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  6. You've written such a good post! Thank you Laura. Hope you have a wonderful happy Thanksgiving.

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  7. That's such wonderful advice Laura! You have a blessed Thanksgiving. XOXO

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  8. I'm thankful for you!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!
    Love, hugs and continued prayers-
    Kellylynn :)

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    1. You are so kind Kellylynn, thank you. Happy weekend!

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  9. Good advice for us all to take action on. I'm not big on Thanksgiving, but love Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful day with your sweet family.

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  10. May I be the one to ask what a normal Thanksgiving looks like, haha!!? Actually, with all the dysfunction in my family....and believe me....REALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL...we always managed to have a good Thanksgiving. I'm grateful for that because the other holidays were ever-loving nightmares that left me with Christmas PTSD and such.

    With just my husband and I, we sleep late, start the turkey, make a couple of side dishes, eat, clean up, & take our pup to the dog park. That's our typical T'giving these days. It's a good thing. :)

    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Laura!

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  11. Wishing you a Blessed and a Happy Thanksgiving.
    Marion and family

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  12. Hope you had a wonderful day..
    love the post.. so very true. Prayer is the answer for everything.

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  13. Dear, sweet Laura, I truly hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving day. Oh, how thankful I am for you and your sweet presence in the blogging community...you are a gem!

    Love and hugs!

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    1. You are too sweet, Stephanie. It was blessed day. It was a blessing just to be alive and well to enjoy it!

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  14. It's a great post, and I do enjoy seeing everyone, but sometimes I think I would just like to enjoy a quiet celebration at home; no running to and fro, just me and my little crowd.

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    1. We've enjoyed the holiday many ways over the years... sometimes at friends' houses, sometimes with friends at our house, sometimes with family at home or away. Thanksgiving is flexible in my book, but we always make sure we are home on Christmas day.
      Be blessed!
      Laura

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  15. With it being just Jack and I, oh and Sylvia too, we sometimes have some different and interesting meals! Never know what we might want for our meal! But I do know about the stressful part too, yes, I well remember. Good reminders and lesson from you!

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    1. ​You seem to be so crazy in love with Jack. I love it when you talk about him. Sylvia must be a great companion for you, too. Hugs to you!
      Laura​

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  16. Such beautiful words and thoughts Laura! It is so true that the "wonderful, amazing, incredible" Thanksgiving may not ring true for many people. My sweet neighbor, I just found out, had her Thanksgiving hopes dashed when her son who was supposed to come and have dinner with her and her mother decided to work late, and not come at all. It was such a disappointment for her. Thankfully her hope and faith in Jesus sustained her. Life is uncertain, and nothing is really fairy-tale true, nor is it meant to be. We learn to make lemonade with lemons, and be thankful for what we have. I hope your Thanksgiving was blessed with the presence of the Lord throughout, that would be the best gift of all and with your pre-prayment plan, it surely would be there! Hugs to you today dear friend!

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    1. You are so right about things not being fairy tale true. Sometimes our expectations set us up for disappointment.

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God bless you! This life only works with Jesus. The next life is a continuation of this one—make sure you spend it with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to God the Father!

Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor