As I’m sitting here typing this, I hear the water draining out of the bathtub and the pitter patter of feet running around which means I have a 2-year-old streaker on my hands downstairs. His dad fell asleep reading and his little sister is already in bed so that means I get to go dress the child myself. Sigh.
Today we celebrated Thanksgiving early with my in-laws. As long as I can remember, this has been my favorite holiday and it’s by far the hardest one to not be at home in Kansas for.
I do love hosting my family-“in-love” here at our home, but when holiday stress hits, I come too close to snapping. My mother-in-law reminded me today, “Your hope is in Christ, Liz, not the turkey dinner.”
Right she is. Tomorrow is my birthday and the day after that my favorite holiday. I’m spending both 12 hours from my mom and dad and grandma and siblings. Oh, how great the temptation is to pity myself. But how can I when my hope is in Christ?
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5 NIV
It’s easy especially around holidays to put expectations and hope in everything but God. But that results in tired, battle-worn people who feel empty at the end of the day.
So you forgot to cook the green bean casserole?
Or the craziness of kids and cousins playing drives you up a wall?
Or the turkey is not as juicy as you hoped?
Or your aunt won’t stop poking her nose into all the dishes you’re cooking, criticizing them?
Or your hopes for family fun this year dissolved into a night of bickering or drinking again?
Or you’re miles from home, maybe alone in a college dorm room, or a city where you know nobody?
Or your sister was in charge of the pumpkin pie and she made that recipe nobody likes?
Or you’ve been through a difficult experience or loss and you don’t feel able to celebrate?
Stop. Breathe. Tell yourself, “My hope isn’t in green bean casserole, it’s in Jesus. This day isn’t about my plans, it’s about God’s plans for me. My expectations are in Christ alone and I can accept weariness or disappointment because he’s all I need. The holiday festivities are just trimmings.”
We can be thankful at all times when we remember that God is enough.
Happy Thanksgiving!