A Very Goodly Harvest

My family held our Thanksgiving feast a few days early this year.  When trying to get 20+ plus people under one roof on the same day, a little re-scheduling of the calendar and national holidays is necessary.  The Grand Princess did her part in bringing a dish to the pot-luck by helping me make macaroni and cheese.  It was especially yummy and the first pot to be emptied.  Look out Rachel Ray!

After lunch we had a Harvest Party, complete with a game of horse shoes, a bow shoot competition, sack races and a hay ride.  The little kids had an “Acorn Hunt”.  They each were given a cup and told to see who could find the most acorns.  They proudly turned in cup after cup of acorns.  My seven year old nephew, Jackson, wearily said, “Aunt Neen, you and Mammie sure did hide these acorns very goodly.”  Sweet little guy thought we had spent the day hiding those acorns all over the yard just so they could find them!  He was doing his best to harvest each and every one.

Tonight Ted & I joined many other folks from our church for a community Thanksgiving service at First Baptist Church of Florence.  The pastor who gave the message asked us to think about the things for which we are thankful.  He challenged us to not just give text book answers, such as my family, my job, my health, etc., but to really dig deep and consider our answer.  To look at our lives and see what is building our character and be thankful for that.  Many times God uses suffering to build our character.  Are we thankful for that?  Disappointment.  Are you thankful?  Heartache.  Still thankful?  Loss.  What about now?

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”       Romans 5:3-5

This level of giving thanks definitely requires some deep digging.  It is not easy.  It is a sacrifice.  But if we can learn to do this and give thanks in all circumstances for all things, we will find perseverance, character, a hope that will not put us to shame, and a love that is poured straight into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  

Perseverance.  Character.  Hope.  Love.  Now that is a very goodly harvest!