Thanksgiving has always been a favorite time of the year for me. I have wonderful memories of family gatherings that would take place all weekend. One of my favorite thanksgiving memories happened when my cousins came to visit for the weekend. I was so excited because they were planning on spending a couple nights which had never happened before. And to top it off my parents and my aunt and uncle decided to go shopping and leave us home…alone.

This was the greatest moment in my young life. What could be better than hanging out with my cousins and no adults telling us to stop running, and keep it down in there. As soon as my parents left to go shopping, we proceeded to do what four young boys left alone would naturally do. We went crazy.  I decided it would be fun to chase my younger cousin and younger brother around the house trying to scare them. After what seemed like forever my older cousin and I cornered my brother and younger cousin in the bathroom. We then spent the next several minutes trying to push the door open. Then the unthinkable happened.

With what seemed like a burst of superhuman strength my younger brother and cousin pushed hard against the bathroom door and threw my older cousin and me backwards. My older cousin stood up, but I did not. I could not stand up because I was stuck in the wall. And so there I sat. My rear end stuck in a hole in the wall. What had started as the greatest moment in my young life was soon becoming the worst moment in my life. All sorts of thoughts and feelings started rushing through my mind. My parents are going to kill me, they will never trust me, I will never be allowed out of my room…ever.

This horrible feeling of dread came over me because I knew my parents would be home soon. All I wanted to do was disappear and maybe come back after everything had calmed down. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel that way about this year. I wish I could disappear and come back after everything has calmed down. It can sometimes feel like I am stuck in a hole in the wall.

It may be difficult to find things to be thankful for right now. Everything has changed and feels like it will never go back to normal. This month during Kidzone live on Sunday mornings we have been learning about gratitude and a couple Sundays ago we learned that we always have something to be thankful for.

My reminder to all of us is this. Despite how difficult this year has been look for the things in your life that you can be thankful for and over all remember this Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1