On this Thanksgiving Day, Tumbledown is thankful that he is a sheep of the Lord's pasture (Psalm 100), and not the "Tom Turkey" of the Lord's flock.Mindful of those confined to hospital rooms and nursing homes today across this broad and fecund land, and feeling for all those people who are isolated and separated from the celebrations of family and friends, those deployed in military service, and all those who will eat alone or in institutions, Tumbledown's thanksgiving prayer includes a request that the Great Good Shepherd of us all (John 10) will continue to walk with us and our mourning, lonely, ill and aging friends through their dark and pain-filled valleys toward greener pastures, on peaceable banks alongside restorative waters (Psalm 23).
Tumbledown is sure that the Good Shepherd still wields both rod and staff, though the chaos of war and terror and famine and disease seem to betray some broken fences on the Good Lord's farm. There are thieves and wolves about in the world, and some of them are stealing sheep and turkeys and chickens.
Still, Tumbledown's head is oily and his cup runs over as he gives thanks for frosty, peaceful November sunrises on the in-laws' once-upon-a-time farmestead, the quiet sounds of birds chirping in the trees, the rustles of deer moving through the woods, and the brown still of the rising sun on the pond before the gleaming white of the first deep freeze.
The ground this year still yielded an abundant harvest. For that we can be grateful and thankful as we dig in to the green beans gathered and stored in the heat of summer, and spread the fall raspberry jam on steaming wheat rolls. As the Turkey roasted slowly in the oven this morning, Tumbledown strolled through the pasture gates, giving thanks for neglected apple trees;
blessing the Lord's name for the blue-bird's nest, now abandoned for the winter;
glad for the well that long ago watered the people and animals of this place.
The Psalmist is right. Whatever else may be said about this world, the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. Tumbledown has tasted the goodness and mercy of the Lord. So, to the living generations now gathered--in your house and ours--Tumbledown sends a very heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving!
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