Thanksgiving is such a special time of the year. It kicks off the Holy Season and is a time where you put a little thought and prayer into the blessings that surround you. You know Kristen brought up a point that I hadn't really thought about for a long long time. Maybe not since I was in elementary school learning about that First Thanksgiving. The pilgrims celebrated their harvest as part of their religion and their feast was centered around prayer. But, the beauty in that story is that, simply, they were able to celebrate their religion as they so chose. We take our religious freedoms for granted. No one reading this blog ever remembers a time when he/she would be persecuted for practicing their faith. Can you even imagine? The fact that we are even able to write about the Lord and our faith is amazing. Because we know of nothing different, I don't believe we can truly appreciate that. So, while Thanksgiving to most of us is a chance to count our blessings, be with loved ones and gorge ourselves on turkey and stuffing, truly we should reflect on the courage of those pilgrims to seek a new world where they could worship the Lord in freedom.
I wanted to share some decorations around my mom's house. This display is in her kitchen atop her Bombay chest. Enjoy!
Be sure to check back tomorrow as we will be giving away something for Christmas!!
Blessing for the day: I'm blessed because I can practice my faith in freedom!
36 comments:
I was just talking about this with a bunch of 7th graders at our teen service last night...We were talking of martyrs and saints and someone said, 'people don't still die for their faith.' Someone else said, 'If you lived somewhere else in the world you could....'
~indeed, we have the freedom of faith to be thankful for..
I'm going to check out the wedding soup recipe, mine is mom's from when we were a kid..so I LOVE a good wedding soup..some are SO whimpy...but with a blog name like hers...it CAN'T be whimpy!!:)
~peace Julie!
lori
The decorations are just wonderful!
You know, Christians are the only "fair game" in political persecution in America today... But you are right, we have it so much better than anywhere else in the world!
Those of us here in Greensburg have lots to be thankful for this year... Even if it isn't religious freedom...
Love these decorations. You have inspired me to post some of my own. I am not well, but maybe tomorrow....
Love the decorations in your Mom's house. This was a gentle reminder post, of the reasons behind the holidays. Sometime we forget and get all caught up in the hoopla...
Penny
we are all blessed to be able to do that...and so much more...blessings, rebecca
The pilgrims your mother has on her chest are so neat! Did you decorate your own house for autumn or Thanksgiving Julie? I would love to see it.
~~ Heidi ~~
Many Christians worldwide are persecuted and I think about that little student at Columbine who was shot after saying 'yes'. We need to pray for all the missionaries to stay safe. I am thankful that all I've had is a laugh here or there.
What a pretty posting. I love Thanksgiving for many reasons; the food, the family gathering, the decorations. It is such a lovely time to offer up thanks for all of our blessings. All the glory goes to our heavenly Father.
I like your mom's decorations...
bj
I agree with you Julie, Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday
The food is only part of the fun. The getting together with family and friends is the best part.
And as you said, it kicks off the winter holiday season.
So let me wish all of your readers here the most Happy and healthy Holiday and New Year ever.
And lets hope for a Great election result next year. But whatever and whoever ..Health and Happiness and family is the key.
Beutifully stated Julie! What we take for granted, was hard won by those who have gone before us.
The pictures of your Mom's decorations are lovely:)
See you tomorrow.
Rhonda
I love the decorations! I have a few things, but want to upgrade and get more. I love Thanksgiving! I think it is sad that it gets lost between Halloween and Christmas. We are truly blessed to live in America with all our freedoms!
Bless you today! Sharon
Such a wonderful post....we all have so much to be thankful for...especially to be able to talk about our faith openly!
Have a very blessed day!
kari and kijsa
Lovely thought, Julie, thanks for the gentle reminder! Your mom's Thanksgiving decorations are wonderful!
xoxo,
Mary
Excellent point, thanks for the reminder!
I am glad that my post provoked thought! I can't help but be blown away by the extreme difference in freedoms in a relatively short period of time! We are truly blessed!
Yes, us Christians have to stand up for ourselves these days!!
Love your mother's decorations - very pretty Julie! xo, Becky
I love her decorations! Those are fantastic!
You just reminded me that I forgot to add my blessing for the day... I better take care of it before Sara has control of my blog =) Thank you for writing about what we tend to take for granted! Blessings... POlly
Thanks for your b-day wishes Julie!!
I agree with you, but we are still dealing with people complaining about singing Christian songs at the school's Holiday Concert (though there are Jewish songs and various other religions represented.) And as Catholics, at least where I live, we are assumed to be non-Christians by some!!! I am thankful though that I can celebrate Mass every day if I wish and I am thankful that I'm not persecuted for my beliefs as others in some countries today are. I have always loved Thanksgiving because I do appreciate everything that I have in my life and I do spend the day being thankful for it!!!
Hi Julie, I love coming over to visit you and hearing the Christmas music! I plan to share about the "early" thanksgiving with my BG's next week.
Thanks for reminding us!
Sandy
A lot to think about in your post today, Julie. And you're right, of course. People here in the US are free to practice whatever religion they please or even no religion at all. That's pretty amazing.
Wow Julie, that is very true and a great reminder. I hope your Monday is going well :)
Hugs,
Dena
Your mother's decorations are so pretty! very festive.
So true, let's pray that the Freedom of practising the Christian faith never gets taken away in the country...
hugs.
Yeah, the memories of Thanksgiving are just wonderful, no matter whom I talk to.
I agree, religion in this country is the most independent it's ever been in the history of mankind! Thank God... or the Goddess... or whomever.
:)
Hi Julie, Sweet decorations at your Mom's. I love Thanksgiving. My house is like the house in that song, "Over the River and thru the Woods, to Grandmamma's house we go". LOL You really do have to go over the river and thru the woods to get to my house. All the family comes here for the big feast. After the dinner we all go for a walk in the woods around the lake, go see the horses and gather greens for Christmas. Then we tromp back to the house for desserts. It's such a fun relaxing day. I am very blessed.
I like your Mom's decorations. I love Thanksgiving alot because I think it's the least commercial of all of the holidays, just family and food.
Julie-Even tho I joke with my husband about just ordering one of those pre-made turkey dinners from the local grocer, I wouldn't trade that hectic day for anything!
We have so much to be thankful for, don't we?
What a wonderful message to share. Your mom's decorations are really pretty.
Hi Julie...you are so right. I don't have any Thanksgiving decorations though....I go from Halloween right to Christmas. Thank you so much for visiting my friend Jan's blog...that was very sweet of you....but you are sweet anyway aren't you??
Love,
Robin
Julie that is so true. Just taking prayer and Jesus out of school makes me crazy.
I have no idea how I would deal.
I'm already planning my meal.....my favorite is the stuffing...and yes it leaves me stuffed...thus the name
Well said...
Priscilla
Great post today!!
Love your decorations too.
Rosemary
You are so right! Love the decorations.
Hugs!
Kat
Excellent point. I myself am guilty of this. I think about the food too much, and forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
I couldn't imagine being persecuted for your beliefs.
The decorations look festive. My mom had some similar items above the fireplace. Her's look kind of spooky. One of them looks like she's missing an arm.
Beautiful decorations!
Nice blog!
Katherine
Post a Comment