The day was spent with our family, who live in this area. The only one missing was our newly acquired Canadian son-in-law, Joshua. He had to work. Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated in October. Having just taken a week off for his honeymoon, he couldn’t afford to take yet another day off.
We all gathered at the home of our daughter Caroline. As dinner was being prepared, some of us enjoyed playing games together. But as things rolled along, the television was turned on to the football game. I sat with my sons-in-law, Kevin and Jared, to try to watch some of the game. But as I did so I began to seethe inwardly. Here we were all together as a family and we were being diverted by the television. I resented those football players charging into the midst of my family and stealing our attention away from one another. I was not amused by the characteristic racket of a football game accompanied by the noisy and often ridiculous commercials. When the ladies announced that dinner was ready, I said in a tone that I am not proud of: “Let’s turn off that television and give thanks to God.” By that point I was upset and it was evident. I emphasized the word God with the intent of placing Him in stark contrast to the American icon of football and television in general. It is not that I think it is a sin to enjoy a football game. But did we have to do it then, on Thanksgiving Day, when we were together as a family? Does television have to invade everything? I then proceeded to explain to all that I had envisioned this to be a day for us to enjoy each other. We are all together on such few occasions, that it seemed to me a shame to let television interfere with this opportunity to interface with each other. When I explained why I was upset about the television, the wishes of the patriarch were understood and respected. The television was turned off never to be heard from again for the rest of our time together. Thanks be to God! In hindsight, I should have calmly explained my position when the game was first turned on. I would have saved myself all that inner turmoil that finally boiled over.
As for the food, the women of my family outdid themselves. It was a rich repast. During dinner we engaged in lively conversation. You get that with the Motts. I think it must be that rich French blood that courses through our veins. Kevin and Jared do not have our gift of gab. Therefore, they quietly ate and endured the rest of us with exemplary Christian patience. Had Joshua been there, he would have been a major participant in the conversation. But then he is also French. After dinner, the grandchildren got to open some presents that Opa and Grandma had brought. Linda and I had purchased a few cheap items from the Dollar Chain and had wrapped them. Each grandchild had a package. And, no, we were not celebrating an alternative Christmas! So don’t even go there. I am fully prepared to bury you with arguments if you try it.
As the ladies cleared away the main courses of the dinner and prepared for dessert, my sons-in-law and I enjoyed a card game called Phase 10. I won every hand leaving Jared not far behind me with Kevin trailing in the rear. For me this was a payback. My sons-in-law and I had recently gone bowling together. Kevin bowled outstandingly. Jared did well, too, but Kevin far outshined us both. Kevin used to bowl in a league. He was glad to find that he had not lost his touch. Kevin’s score so far exceeded mine that the words of Job occur to me as an apt description of my defeat: “I have…defiled my horn in the dust” (Job 16:15). So, needless to say, I was quite enjoying beating him in a game. You see, I stand a chance of winning if it is a game of pure chance. But if the game requires athletic skill, then count me out.
But this is where it really became good. After the dessert, we all gathered around the table for a hymn sing. My wife and I raised our daughters to love music. They all took piano lessons and learned to read music. We are able to harmonize as a family and have sung together ever since we have been a family. I am pleased to report that my grandchildren are learning music as well. They, too, chimed in as we sang. On a couple of songs we adults refrained from singing on the chorus and just listened to the children sing. What a blessing that is! Then we had a time for telling things that we are thankful for. My grandson Ashton said: “I am glad the devil is going to hell because I don’t like him.” I quite agree with you, Ashton. I don’t like him either. My grandson Justin thanked God that he is a child of God and that he will go to heaven someday. My mother expressed thankfulness for how the Lord has been with her throughout all her days. Scarcely restraining the tears, she then pointed to her family as one of her chief blessings adding also the blessing of her church family. My son-in-law Kevin expressed gratitude for the deep friendship that he has with his brother-in-law Jared, to which Jared agreed. I was touched to hear Kevin so openly and unashamedly expressing his affection for his brother-in-law. There is nothing unmanly about men expressing their love for one another. It is such a blessing to see the in-laws in my family getting along so well. Then my little granddaughter Rebekah expressed her thankfulness for cups. Yes, you read it correctly: cups. Now you don’t often hear cups listed when people are counting their blessings. But light was shed on the subject when my grandson Nicklas afterwards prayed. He joined his sister in thanking God for cups. Here were his words to the Almighty: “Thank you for cups to drink out of so we don’t have to sink-drink, because that is disgusting.” Of course, others of us had to subdue a chuckle. But when you think about it, cups are indeed something to be thankful for. Imagine what life would be without them. When my turn came, I thanked God for the wonderful resource for joy and companionship that I have within my own family to offset the hardship and loneliness that often goes with being a minister. We had a time of prayer with some of the grandchildren praying. I prayed what I thought was to be the concluding prayer. But my grandson Brendan expressed a desire to pray at the end. Toward the close of his prayer he thanked God that even though it was dark and rainy outside, we were all inside laughing and that it was sunny in our hearts. That crowned the day! And I believe everyone was truly glad that we had turned off the football game. We did not need the outside world to entertain us after all.
As we parted for the day, I went away with this recurring thought: This was how Thanksgiving Day was meant to be celebrated. Thank you for taking a little time to visit with the Mott family. Ya’ll come again now!
Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
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