Gratitude in the Gathering

Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn’t it? One minute you’re thinking, “We just packed away the summer chairs,” and the next, you’re standing in the kitchen surrounded by casseroles, plastic wrap, and people who all swear they already signed up to bring dessert.

And yet, somehow, it always comes together.

Every dish finds its place, every table fills up, and every conversation—whether loud and lively or quiet and heartfelt—becomes part of the same beautiful noise of gratitude.

This is the good kind of chaos. The kind that reminds us that gratitude doesn’t come from perfection, but from presence.

Thanksgiving isn’t about the food (though we’ll never say no to one more slice of pie). It’s about the miracle of community. About coming together as people who’ve walked through hard things, good things, and ordinary days that somehow still mattered.

It’s about grace—the kind that shows up when someone forgets the salt, or when the prayer runs a little long, or when you realize the table’s not big enough, but there’s still room for one more.

Today isn’t just a holiday. It’s a pause. A reminder that every blessing, every person, every breath we still get to take—it all comes from a good and faithful God.

So wherever you’re sitting today—around a crowded church table, in a small kitchen, or maybe just quietly at home—may your heart be full. May your hands be open. And may your gratitude stretch a little wider than your worries.

Because Thanksgiving isn’t about what we have—it’s about Who gave it.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 🍂