October 29th, 2026
by Jeff Joyner
by Jeff Joyner
There have been many Thanksgiving traditions we have adopted in our 35 years of marriage. Some have come from my side of the family, and others are traced back to Sherry’s childhood. With Thanksgiving Day approaching, I thought I would give an account of what Thanksgiving looks like in our household.
I am usually the first to rise in the morning. I make my coffee and eat a VERY light breakfast, so I won’t ruin my Thanksgiving meal later. I then put the turkey in the oven for Sherry and turn on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I watch a marching band or two and a couple of floats. Interspersed between them is a famous recording artist struggling to lip-sync to their song. After about 15 minutes I turn off the TV, resisting the temptation to watch the first of 5 NFL games being broadcast during the day. Instead, I shift my focus and continue a tradition my mother began when my brothers and I were very young. I put on Handel’s Messiah.
By midafternoon, all the kids and grandkids have arrived, and the food preparation is done. We are finally ready to eat. Though we are all famished, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the ONE whom this day is about. As we go around the table, we each share what we are thankful to God for. I then read out of Psalm 95.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
And extol him with music and song
For the Lord is the great God
The great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3
As we hold hands and pray, there is a final tradition that continues to be passed down through the years. I wipe the tears from my eyes. For God is good and His mercies endure forever. And I am forever grateful for all He has done for me.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
I am usually the first to rise in the morning. I make my coffee and eat a VERY light breakfast, so I won’t ruin my Thanksgiving meal later. I then put the turkey in the oven for Sherry and turn on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I watch a marching band or two and a couple of floats. Interspersed between them is a famous recording artist struggling to lip-sync to their song. After about 15 minutes I turn off the TV, resisting the temptation to watch the first of 5 NFL games being broadcast during the day. Instead, I shift my focus and continue a tradition my mother began when my brothers and I were very young. I put on Handel’s Messiah.
By midafternoon, all the kids and grandkids have arrived, and the food preparation is done. We are finally ready to eat. Though we are all famished, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the ONE whom this day is about. As we go around the table, we each share what we are thankful to God for. I then read out of Psalm 95.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
And extol him with music and song
For the Lord is the great God
The great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3
As we hold hands and pray, there is a final tradition that continues to be passed down through the years. I wipe the tears from my eyes. For God is good and His mercies endure forever. And I am forever grateful for all He has done for me.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
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