… it’s Thanksgiving here in Canada!
And pumpkins are EVERYWHERE! I’m rather excited about this because I find pumpkins somewhat magical. It probably stems from the whole Cinderella carriage thing, or maybe it’s the fact that I hadn’t ever seen a real pumpkin until I came to Canada (who knew they grew in fields?!), but I simply adore them. They’re cute and round and bright and… happy!
Not to mention their deliciousness, providing us with such culinary delights as pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins, pumpkin soup, and good ol’ pumpkin pie. Really, what’s not to love?
*And here’s my fave PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE-CHIP MUFFIN recipe, just to make your Thanksgiving weekend complete:
2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, ½ can pure pumpkin (14oz size), ½ cup vegetable oil,
1½ cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
*Beat eggs; add oil, sugar and pumpkin- mix.
*Add dry ingredients, then choc chips.Spoon mixture into greased muffin pan
*Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 mins.
ENJOY! Now back to my point…
The Thanksgiving holiday was new to us when we arrived in Canada. Granted, we usually had some sort of “harvest festival” service at our churches back in the U.K., where a humble display of fruit and canned goods graced the stage, and we sang the traditional “We Plow the Fields and Scatter” type hymns. But the thought of the entire country taking a day off to celebrate together and give thanks was amazing! It certainly had our stamp of approval.
The only iffy thing I had to get over was the decidedly odd salad concoctions. Where I come from, marshmallows, mousse and jello (jelly, actually!) had no place until dessert. Why? Because they are sweet and dessert-ish. However, my regular salads comprising lettuce, tomato and cucumber were now challenged with these new delicacies… and to top it off, they were dished onto the same plate as the turkey dinner. With gravy! Ewww. I’m okay, it’s just one of those cultural hurdles. If it means a day off to spend with loved ones, I’m in! (Although you still won’t find a “dessert salad” on my Thanksgiving menu- sorry!)
But Thanksgiving’s not just about the turkey, the pumpkins, or the scent of fall in the air, or even time with family and friends. It’s an opportunity to give thanks and count our blessings. And we have MUCH to be thankful for. Peace in our land, full stomachs, healthy bodies, religious freedom, family, friends, warm homes, beauty all around us… and the promise of life eternal.
If we think our Thanksgiving feast looks good this weekend, and the mountainous backdrop set against the glimmering lake in the fall sunshine takes our breath away- wait until we see what’s in store in Heaven! God in all His glory- a place where we will joyfully give thanks with hearts overflowing forever.
Many things make me happy- and yes, pumpkins are one of the simple pleasures on the list. When I’m happy, I want to share it with others, and I want to bubble my joy back to the One who blesses me so very much.
May thanksgiving be a daily practice for us all.
Starting today.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (the Message) “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”
