Thanksgiving 2009
“Do you have a turkey ticket?” the lady behind the meat counter at Johnny’s Market inquired. Becky had asked me to pick up our fresh turkey after supper today since I was going to be out anyway. “No!” I replied. “Do you know the size, large or small?” She asked. “No” I said. “What’s the name?” she persisted. Well, that I knew. “Jansen” I volunteered.
Yesterday I noticed that a church down on Lindbergh was having a Thanksgiving Day service tonight. In fact they are about to begin the service as I am writing.
But what really caught my attention was a below the fold headline in the Post Dispatch. “Thanksgiving and revelry are now close companions,” it read. Mark Erney of Erney’s 32 Degrees night club opened his club the day after Thanksgiving last year. “That’s one of the biggest club going times of the year.” he said. Who knew? Well I certainly didn’t. But then I haven’t been to club in over 45 years. Thanksgiving is the biggest family holiday of the year. Those coming in from out of town not only gather around the dinner table on Thanksgiving, but also use the occasion to spend time with friends they haven’t seen for some time.
As I think about it, Thanksgiving has always been a mixed holiday. Growing up in Wisconsin, it fell in the latter half of the deer hunting season. As the week progressed “buck fever” waned and the deer grew more skittish. So at least at our house, Thanksgiving morning was spent in church, giving thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He had afforded us in the past year, including the buck hanging from the tree in the yard. But we also gathered with several other relatives for the usual Thanksgiving dinner, an afternoon of football, conversation and snoozing. The men were most likely to do the snoozing. The women would just keep on talking.
Thursday morning I’ll be down at Conant for a Thanksgiving Service. I still like the idea of a service on Thanksgiving Day. But I will feel some pressure to get back home by 11:30. That is when the Packer – Lions game starts.
Somewhere in the midst of all the multi-events surrounding the Day and I haven’t even mentioned the parades, set aside a portion of Thanksgiving Day to be thankful.
Hymn 894 LSB
For the fruits of His creation, Thanks be to God.
For His gifts to every nation, Thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
Silent growth while we are sleeping,
Future needs in earth’s safe keeping, Thanks be to God.
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