For the past 3 years, my family spent Thanksgiving on a tropical island where the day looked like any other day: sunshine, trade winds, ocean views. Beautiful yes, but this born and raised Oklahoma girl’s idea of Thanksgiving-y weather?

Not so much.

But Thanksgiving has nothing to do with weather and everything to do with celebrating-embracing!-our God breathed blessings.

While I do what I can to foster Thanksgiving in our family no matter the time of year, this holiday calls for special-to-this-season traditions. Yes, our senses revel in the traditional togetherness of loved ones, mile-high piled food, Macy’s parades and football games. But we enjoy adding “stories” to engage our senses at Thanksgiving, too. Two stories we never tire of hearing:

The Legend of Squanto (Paul McCusker)

You may have heard that Squanto was an Indian who helped feed the Pilgrims. This is true and his help proved vitally important to the early Americans. But his life boasts an often tested, far-reaching faith that inspires. His very life is a story of Thanksgiving. More than once, Squanto finds himself caught in the conflict between the New World’s arriving European explorers and the Native Americans, and more than once God proved Himself faithful through this amazing man.

You may listen to a selection of the Focus on the Family produced audio drama here (part 1) and here (part 2) or order it in its entirety here. For a limited time, Focus is offering a free download of the entire drama, too!

The Popcorn Kernel Story

Our family begins Thanksgiving dinner by placing 5 corn kernels on each plate. The five kernels represent the dismal winter of 1623 when the Pilgrims, two years after landing at Plymouth, survived on a few grains of corn four or five days at a time. According to this article by Susan Roser, placing five kernels of corn on each dinner plate started in 1820 at Plymouth’s Bicentennial of the Pilgrim’s landing as a way to commemorate their ancestor’s plight. Today, families continue this tradition by beginning every meal with five kernels of corn on their plates as they recount this story. For our family, each kernel represents the opportunity to share a blessing received and enjoyed.

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This Thanksgiving and always, I pray you see abundant reasons to thank Him because every good gift is from Him (James 1:17). And if this Thanksgiving is a difficult one, I pray you find God’s provision in the middle of the gritty mess. He is there and everywhere and He loves you madly.