Tuesday 4: Talking Turkey

I'm a little late to the party, but I'm joining in to talk turkey with the Tuesday 4. 

1. Do you celebrate with family, friends or by yourself?  

Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with family and this year won't be any different, but it is looking like it will just be Tim and I and my mom and stepdad. 

Our daughter was at the ER last night and has been diagnosed with a kidney stone, a UTI, and Influenza A. Colton was diagnosed with the flu last week. Leah came down with it today. 

Praying Tim and I don't get it since we had Leah here on Sunday and kept both kids last night while Mom and Dad were at the hospital. If we get sick, we will all be in separate homes for the second time in 3 years.

* I am truly thankful that no one is gravely ill, but admit to being a bit annoyed. We have not all been together for Thanksgiving since before Covid. I was really looking forward to all of us being around the table this year.

2.  Do you watch the Thanksgiving Day parade from Macy's in New York City?  The appearance of Santa at the end signals the start of the Christmas season.  What does the day hold for you?  

I used to love the parade, but am not quite as fond of it since you now see so little of the actual parade. I suppose all the performances are okay, but I'm finding that every year I have less and less idea of who the performers are. I'm in a minority, anyway. No one else really likes to watch.

Without our daughter's family present, it will be a quiet day. We may watch the dog show or a movie and a game of dominos is probably in the cards.

3. What foods are the hit of Thanksgiving Day for you?  

Gravy. Yeah, I know, but I love me some gravy! I also like the cornbread casserole and sweet potatoes a lot. I am one of the weirdos that likes green bean casserole, too, but I am alone on that one in this family.

4.  We say grace before and after meals. Is grace a part of your Thanksgiving meal?

Yes, we have always said grace and sometimes share what we are thankful for. I had planned to share this before dinner, but that may not happen since it will just be the four of us.

I can't think of a better thing to be thankful for.

"God won't give you more than you can handle..."

Odd, I can't seem to find that verse.

“I'm guessing Job would take exception to that cliche.

So would Joseph.

Paul did.

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself..." II Corinthians 1:8

Why would God allow him to experience hurt more than he could handle? Read on. "...so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God." II Corinthians 1:9

Truth? Cancer is more than you can handle.

So is infidelity.

So is caregiving.

So is rejection.

So is death

and loss

and grief

and prodigal children

and 101 other life struggles.

God doesn't expect YOU to handle it.

He expects you to hand it over to HIM.

He doesn't want you relying on your strength, but on His.

If we keep walking around thinking

"God won't give me more than I can handle,"

we're setting ourselves up for

heavenly disappointment.

Good news? He beckons for your burdens,

"Cast your cares upon Me..." I Peter 5:7

You will never know relief until you do.

For this hard place, I have Jesus!” Jolene Valeu