Sharing Thanks
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsIntro for the sharing of thanksgiving at Thanksgiving Eve service.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I have the privilege tonight of leading us in a time of sharing our thanksgiving.
The Psalmist wrote:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Singing to the Lord
Joyful Noises
To the unmoveable ROCK of our salvation
Entering God’s presence with thanksgiving.
I don’t know about you, but holidays always cause me to reminisce. To remember. They serve as a sort of milepost in my life, and I think they sort of serve that purpose in many of our lives.
Those mileposts are not always cheery, but they are often very profound.
So I want to give you all the opportunity to share a bit of your thankful story, and before I do that, I want to share with you something I’m Thankful for.
On Thanksgiving Day 14 years ago, my dad finished his race here in this world. When I share just that much, I know that many people feel sad that a holiday was ruined. I want to tell you why it made it all that more special.
Our whole family had gathered for the holiday. We gathered at Mom and Dad’s house, Dad was down the hall from the kitchen in the guest room. My older sister and her husband, my nephew and niece, my younger sister and her friend and I all were there. We set the table as we normally would, Dad’s spot was at the head of the table and set accordingly.
After we had all filled our plates, we quietly walked down the hall, held hands in a circle around his bed (including him) and we gave thanks. Thanks for his life, thanks for mom, thanks for all the blessings of the past year, and thanks for the food. Then we returned to the table and enjoyed our dinner.
After eating far too much, one by one we sat with him as he slept. We said what needed to be said. From down the hall and even in the kitchen we could hear his labored breathing. The rhythm had become our music for our festivities that day.
Like most families that gather for such feasts everyone pitches in. Each of us had our own job to do. My dad’s had always been taking care of mom’s fine china as the dishes were washed. That year, my older sister took on that role for him.
Just after the final dish had been put carefully back in the china hutch, the music ceased. Dad finished his race.
“Shhh! Do you hear that?” My sister’s friend asked. We all stopped and listened.
Silence.
Peace.
We all went back to his room. We cried. We hugged. We sighed. We told stories. We laughed. We cried some more.
Perhaps the greatest legacy my dad left, were stories. When we gather… anytime we gather... we tell stories. Sometimes they make us cry. Sometimes we simply reminisce. And sometimes they make us laugh.
I’m so thankful for that memory. I’m so thankful that my family will once again be together tomorrow - not all of us, but my mom, my older sister and her husband, and a good friend. We will gather and we will no doubt tell stories. Some will be sad, some will be silly, some will make us laugh and others will bring a tear.
So as we come, I want to invite you to share in a few words something you’re thankful for this year. After you share, we’ll say together: Thank you Lord, Praise you!
I’m thankful for family and stories.
Thank you Lord, Praise you!