Devotion: Thanksgiving
Please take a moment to read: Luke 17:11-19
Most people eat turkey, along with an array of vegetable side dishes on Thanksgiving. Ham is also very common. Both make for a great Thanksgiving dinner. Although we had a wonderful thanksgiving gathering at my childhood home, for at least three years my family did not have a common Thanksgiving table.
Before I explain why, let me share with you what happened at my home. Every Thanksgiving we invited our neighbor who lived across the street and down a couple of houses. Ms. Anderson was a wonderful and very quiet lady who lived by herself. Another special neighbor also came over, he was Grandpa. Not having any living Grandpas, he unofficially became part of our family and was simply called, “Grandpa.”
One year Grandpa lost his wife and that was the year my Dad made the decision that we were going to make Lutefisk for Thanksgiving that year. We usually had Lutefisk for Christmas, but my heart sank as I learned we’d have to have it for Thanksgiving as well. Who did that? Lutefisk is cod fish that (traditionally) was soaked in lye to preserve it. After rinsing out the lye you often boiled or baked it and served it with melted butter or a white sauce. Needless to say it was not a favorite dish of mine.
However, when Grandpa learned we were having Lutefisk he actually got tears in his eyes. Even Ms. Anderson was a bit excited. To them it was a treat from yesteryear. I’ll never forget Grandpa’s face, dripping butter from his chin from scooping in the fish. The lines in his aged face didn’t seem to be so deep.
So not only was there turkey and ham on our table, but there sat the Lutefisk. The food highlight of the year. Perhaps it was because of the rush to get everything done at the same time or perhaps it was because of the lutefisk, however it happened, the mixed vegetables didn’t make it to the table. They spent the entire meal and most of the clean-up time sitting in the microwave. I blame the focus on the Lutefisk.
In the story from Luke’s Gospel, ten people were suffering from leprosy. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. As they went, they were healed. Nine went and healed, one returned to God giving thanks and praise.
At this year’s Thanksgiving gatherings, and in our lives always, let’s be inspired and empowered by the one who returned to gave thanks. Let’s practice giving thanks for things we might easily overlook, like the veggies in the microwave. And let’s practice giving thanks that brings joy to others, like lutefisk.
Happy Thanksgiving and richest blessings and know I give thanks to God for you.
Written by Pastor Michelle Oetken
Pastor Michelle answered God’s call to serve at Sheridan in 2014 and shepherds our ministries of Confirmation, Youth and Young Adults. Her first 15 years of ministry were spent as solo Pastor in McCool Junction and Wausa, NE.
In addition to spending time in the parish, she has also served on the synod boards of NLOM and Global Ministry. Michelle has two beautiful children, Jonathon and Krista. In her spare time, she enjoys growing in her knowledge of American Sign Language, playing piano and crafting.