I Am Blessed...I Hope You Are, Too!

Well, I have eaten very little today in preparation for lots of eating tomorrow, Thanksgiving.

You say, “Dan, are you going to make it? Are you going to survive? You look weak!”

Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Although a few minutes ago I was gnawing on the corner of my computer…..It tastes like chicken. [rim shot]

Oh, I know, this little program of mine probably sounds silly, but it’s a way of helping me not to feel so bad about eating a big dinner tomorrow. But I want to tell you that there’s been an interesting unintended benefit to my little tradition (the “tradition” that I’ve done one other time). This didn’t happen the last time I did this “Thanksgiving prep” so I wasn’t expecting it. For some reason, the process of eating very little today has had the effect of reminding me how blessed I am. It seems that “not having” all the typical meals has impressed upon my mind how much I really “do have”. I’m remembering today that…

I am wonderfully blessed;

…undeservedly blessed;

…generously blessed;

…surprisingly blessed.

Hmm, maybe I should do this more often.

I trust you can see and understand the ways that you are blessed, too. I don’t know everyone’s circumstances, but I suspect that in many ways, you are very blessed. I hope that’s true. And as we remember that God has been good to us, it is a great time to allow those blessings to be formed into expressions of our thankfulness to God.

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.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

   Psalm 95:1-3 & 6-7 (NIV)

Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow…filled with love, joy, peace and true gratitude.  And remember to WHOM we are thankful!

Special Physical Prep For Thanksgiving

Here’s my plan: I’m going to eat very light today (Tuesday). And then I’m going to eat almost nothing at all tomorrow (Wednesday). THEN….THEN…I can eat with reckless abandon on Thanksgiving Day—“consuming mass quantities” as the Coneheads would say—and not feel guilty about all those calories.

You ask, “Dan, where did you get such a crazy idea, this time?”

Actually, this is a tradition with me (and by “tradition” I mean I did this one other time) and it works pretty well. So, I’m going to keep the tradition alive this year.

You say, “Dan, is this a special program that you have to “pay a fee” to be a part of?”

….Um…yes…yes…as a matter of fact it is…That’s right…yes…a…um…special program [looks quickly from side to side] …Sure, send your checks to….

No, I’m playing around, anyone can do this.

Here’s what you do: If you’ve already eaten today, that’s it. No more. You’re done for today. And tomorrow, it has to be very light. One baby carrot; a half of a handful of peanuts; and chew a very small amount of bark off of a nearby tree. And that’s it.

You might be thinking, “Wow, this is amazing! I’m impressed with this guy’s discipline and will power and his tremendous resolve. It’s really inspirational.”

What’s that? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you, I was unwrapping a Kit Kat bar.

…..Just kidding!!! It’s Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 5:02pm, as I write this note and, so far, the “Prep-For-Thanksgiving” Tradition (a one-year old tradition) is still alive!

I’ll let you know how it’s going tomorrow.

[“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr”…pay no attention, that’s just my stomach growling.]