Rye, New York October 2010
1 Chronicles 29:13 NIV
"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the year, is a time for family and friends to gather round our table to thank God for the blessings of the year.
As a child, I remember the house overflowing with family and friends. Mom and dad prepared two tables: the adults' and kids’. As the eldest child, I never felt like I belonged at the kids' table, yet there I sat.
Once everyone was stuffed on turkey dinner, the spotlight turned on my dad. He was the consummate storyteller. His most famous story grew like a "fish tale" each year and originated from an event from his childhood when he lived on a farm south of Terre Haute, Indiana.
He would begin, "Kids, thirty-five years ago today, your grandfather found a dead man in the woods."
"A dead man, dad?"
"Yes. He’d been hunting across from the old farm next to Second Prairie Creek church and found a dead man."
"Who was it, dad?" we'd ask on cue.
"Well, rumor is, he was a member of Al Capone's gang in Chicago, who fell out of favor with Capone. Capone had him murdered, and his body was dumped in the woods by us."
By now the story has reached mythic levels. While this part of the story is possible, it’s highly unlikely; however, it makes for an interesting family story around the dinner table every Thanksgiving. We look forward to hearing dad tell it as much as he enjoys telling it to us.
Since dad died in 1992, we’ve all tried to repeat this story and have failed to capture the subtle nuances of it. Dad told it with a flair we lack. It's not the same story.
In my house, Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, sharing family stories, and loving each other. Past times and family members who have passed away are remembered, while new memories are created with our children.
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Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings of Thanksgiving.
"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the year, is a time for family and friends to gather round our table to thank God for the blessings of the year.
As a child, I remember the house overflowing with family and friends. Mom and dad prepared two tables: the adults' and kids’. As the eldest child, I never felt like I belonged at the kids' table, yet there I sat.
Once everyone was stuffed on turkey dinner, the spotlight turned on my dad. He was the consummate storyteller. His most famous story grew like a "fish tale" each year and originated from an event from his childhood when he lived on a farm south of Terre Haute, Indiana.
He would begin, "Kids, thirty-five years ago today, your grandfather found a dead man in the woods."
"A dead man, dad?"
"Yes. He’d been hunting across from the old farm next to Second Prairie Creek church and found a dead man."
"Who was it, dad?" we'd ask on cue.
"Well, rumor is, he was a member of Al Capone's gang in Chicago, who fell out of favor with Capone. Capone had him murdered, and his body was dumped in the woods by us."
By now the story has reached mythic levels. While this part of the story is possible, it’s highly unlikely; however, it makes for an interesting family story around the dinner table every Thanksgiving. We look forward to hearing dad tell it as much as he enjoys telling it to us.
Since dad died in 1992, we’ve all tried to repeat this story and have failed to capture the subtle nuances of it. Dad told it with a flair we lack. It's not the same story.
In my house, Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, sharing family stories, and loving each other. Past times and family members who have passed away are remembered, while new memories are created with our children.
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Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings of Thanksgiving.
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