Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
For many of us, Thanksgiving Day holds more traditions than the rest of the year combined. From the Macy’s Day Parade to the pumpkin pie, the day is steeped in long-standing, deeply rooted traditions.
In our house, we start with a run to the nearest gas station for three newspapers. Our local paper prints a full-page turkey for kids to color, so three kids who can color (my newborn isn’t there yet) = three papers. I grew up coloring that newspaper turkey with my own siblings, and now my kids spend their first hours of Thanksgiving doing the same. While they color, I read the rest of the newspaper and separate out the ads I want to look at after dinner. We turn the parade on TV, and then we start cooking.
Whether we host or visit someone else’s home on Thanksgiving, I cook as much as possible that day. I love preparing Thanksgiving foods! The planning (which I usually begin in August) and prepping, shopping and chopping, whisking and basting . . . I love it all. There are traditions behind the dishes we prepare on Thanksgiving, of course. Mashed potatoes and made-from-scratch gravy are a must, because it’s how Grandma did it. A roasted turkey, recipe perfected and carried out annually by my husband. Both homemade and canned cranberry sauces, because each of us likes a little of both. Green beans in some form have to grace the table. And of course we need pie — pumpkin, pecan, and cranberry are our usual dessert fare.
While I cook, my family cleans their bedrooms and vacuums the house, getting it ready for the next day (that’s when we’ll set up our tree and start decorating for Christmas!). We watch whatever football game is on, and after that we switch to the DVD player and put in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. We may go over the river and through the woods to visit relatives, or they may come to our house; either way, we usually get together with family. That looks different this year as we are still physically distancing, carefully considering and weighing risks for ourselves and others. This year at our table there will be more empty chairs and more video calls, less physical presence and more longing for “normal.” This leaves the taste of bittersweet in my mouth, and I’m finding balm in holding my beloved traditions even closer.
Traditions can keep us close even when our gatherings or hearts are far apart.
We can make the same sweet potatoes we had as kids. We can play football or take a walk after Thanksgiving dinner like we usually do with our siblings or cousins. We can color the newspaper turkey. We can set the table as always, and we can give thanks.
We can lean on the things that have remained over the years; in fact, it’s important that we do.
Creator of the Four Keys for Practicing Faith, my friend Rev. Dr. David Anderson defines these vital practices as Rituals and Traditions, and he says they are “symbolic actions grounded in the Christian tradition throughout the year, providing a beautiful and holistic way of experiencing the grace of God.” I love his definition because it validates the value found in incorporating and recognizing traditions in our holidays (and regular days, too!). It also gives weight to the feelings that accompany traditions when they’re present, and when those traditions are missing.
I think Jesus has a soft spot for rituals and traditions because He understands how grounding they are to us, His children. He has let us know that He Himself is unchanging, a constant presence on which we can rely. Yesterday, today, and forever – no matter what, Jesus is the same.
He is our greatest tradition.
Lord, I am grateful for the blessings You lavish. For the big ones – family, friends, food, and shelter – and the glory found in the small things as well. Thank You for a day focused on giving thanks. May my life become one of traditions and thankful days. Amen.
Why is it so comforting to know that Jesus never changes?
This devotion first appeared in Pumpkin Spice for Your Soul: 25 Devotions for Autumn by Anna Rendell.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
As I get older and the family-scape at our table has changed dramatically, I cling to the fact that Jesus is never changing. Even if it’s just Jesus and me at the table, that will be good indeed. So thankful for His constant presense in this ever changing world. Lovely post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Anna E. Rendell says
Amen, Bev! As everything changes, He remains. Thank goodness.
Michele Morin says
Loved reading about your traditions!
Anna E. Rendell says
Thanks, Michele! I love hearing others’ traditions too.
Sheralyn Skaar says
Beautifully written. Our family experienced countless changes in the last decade. Traditions changed as we lost family members. Your post reminds me that even with changes, I can keep a tradition. And that begins with my heart.
Anna E. Rendell says
Yes, Sheralyn — it does indeed start in our hearts. Such a good reminder.
Judy M Wagner says
Thank you for telling us about your family traditions. Mine too will be much different this year. My father passed away in August, my mother passed 40 years ago. As an only child, and single, most of the holidays have been spent with my dad. There have been scattered holidays over the years when my dad’s extended family got together for big celebrations. Those Thanksgivings always reminded me of “The Walton’s” TV show. A lot of people and a lot of fun. Watching the parades, the guys watching football, kids playing games, some taking naps. Everyone took home leftovers. And Christmas traditions meant the extended family gathered in the afternoon at the eldest’ house for visiting, exchanging gifts, and nibbling on food, lots of food!
I had a taste of what future holidays will be like when Labor Day came along. None of the extended family had a picnic, no family get togethers at all this summer. Just me and my 2 cats. And the Lord. It is all OK. I can get a turkey slice, already have cranberry sauce and frozen cranberry/ orange bread and make boxed filling. There’s pumpkin roll in the freezer. I have many photos and memories. And there is the phone and Zoom to communicate with cousins and aunts/ uncles, friends. The cats and I will sit down and give thanks that the Lord has blessed us and there will be a vaccine coming and dad will be with us in spirit. There will be family get togethers in 2021 and a lot to talk about this crazy year of 2020. God is good!
Beth Williams says
Judy,
Life is constantly changing. You were blessed to have the whole family get together at times. My immediate family is scattered from VA, GA, TX & yes even China. Both parents are gone now (11 years & 3 years). FIL just passed last year. Hubby & I often have to work on Thanksgiving (medical). Like you I have some favorite foods. Absolutely love cranberry orange bread. I have made it for MIL a few times. She raves about it. Said it was better than pumpkin bread from scratch. I will be making some of that for her for Christmas. Praying you feel God’s presence & love as you celebrate alone. Praise God that He never changes & will see us through this crazy year.
Blessings 🙂
Anna E. Rendell says
Judy, thank you for sharing your beautiful stories with us here! I love picturing your gatherings — both big and small. Blessings to you this Thanksgiving as you prepare your own feast, and know that many of us are doing the very same thing.
Beth Williams says
Anna,
Life is evolving & dynamic. Change is never easy to under go. People like constant same old same old. In the midst of all the craziness that is 2020 it is comforting to know that God doesn’t change. He is the one constant in our lives today. I feel traditions are super important this year more than ever. So much is happening to reshape our landscape of what the holidays look like. Thus we need to make adjustments & traditions help us do just that. They center us back where we belong. Focusing on Jesus & his consistency is one way to do just that.
Blessings 🙂
Anna E. Rendell says
Yep, I’m not a big fan of change 🙂 but love me some re-centering with our traditions!
Becky Keife says
I still don’t know what Thanksgiving is going to look like this year, but I know there will be Jesus, family, and pie. Even in uncertain times, we have so much to give thanks for. Beautiful words as always, friend. Thank you. xx
Anna E. Rendell says
And these three remain… Jesus, family, pie. Yes indeed!!!
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Jesus is Our Greatest Tradition. All year round. Some people don’t have anyone in our world to share any Tradition with. Because they are either Homeless or living on their own or in a Nursing home alone. The reason they are maybe living alone or in a Nursing home alone. All their loves one could be no longer alive or living the other side of the world themselves and too old to travel to see their loved ones. So I just thank Jesus I still have my Family and my Husband plus a Roof over my head. That I am saved. I have Family to share Tradition with. We in Northern Ireland don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. We celebrate Christmas and The New year and Easter. We in the Churches at Christmas celebrate Christ Birth. At Easter the Churches celebrate Christ and why he went to Cross. We as Churches just say about the New year as trying if saved to make any changes in our lives that need to be made. Or if possible trying to live a better life for Jesus if you slipped say not being so good at reading God word as well as you should and saying your prayers. But always remembering God loves you. Your not to beat yourself up over this. Try again. Ask God through his Holy Spirit to help you. God will. God will bless you for trying again. You have not failed you are still love by God. He hid Glad you are will to try again with his help. It is nice if have Family more so if saved to get together to celebrate Tradition. You can thank God for the Tradition you are Celebrating. Plus you have Family to Celebrate it with. I can’t do that. Because I am the only one in my Family saved. Along with my Husband. But I do pray for my Families Salvation. I also in my quite time pray for the Homeless who have no one especially coming up to times like Christmas and for people who like over here in Northern Ireland. Call the Soup Kitchens who reach out and give them food for what they do. I don’t know if the Soup Kitchens are Christians. But I thank God for the work they do for people like the Homeless. God see what they do and he will bless them. Thank you for today’s another good reading. Love all incourage reading. Pray for you all. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little XXX
Anna E. Rendell says
Thanks for your prayers and ideas, Dawn!
Marguerite Coutinho says
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. It’s good to know this because the great miracles He did while He walked the earth, He still does today. So, it’s good to know that He is unchanging.
Anna E. Rendell says
Such good truth to cling onto.
Sadie Niola says
Anna you are spot on as the mother of 4 and continuing the beautiful traditions ( I really felt like you know that’s exactly how we grew up!) it’s been so many years since I celebrated that way it felt like it was last year! Sadly not. Besides deceased parents and broken family relationships.. IAM SO GRATEFUL FOR JESUS AND HE IS ALWAYS HERE WITH ME ❤️ Enjoy your precious family time together.. and one day post covid… your kids will have those exact memories you did along with Jesus at their side! Blessings and grateful for your posts
Anna E. Rendell says
Thank you Sadie! So glad you left your words here today.