Thanksgiving

She stared at the calendar.  Yes, Thanksgiving had arrived and families would again be gathering to enjoy the feasting and football.  She looked back over the decades and remembered all those reunions. It was always a special day and she rejoiced that her memory was still keen as she cherished those past Thanksgiving celebrations.

As a child, Janet remembered Thanksgiving was always held at Aunt Francis and Uncle Arthur's house in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.  A childless couple, they always insisted on hosting the traditional event. There was Uncle Ernie and Aunt Stella plus cousins Robert and Colin.  Also Grandma Sprague and Aunt Emma.  As well as Arthur's sister, Edith, and their parents, Peter and Ethel.  Janet loved the holiday mainly because she adored her older cousins and this day gave her opportunity to be with them. This was family and her Mommy and Daddy and her brother Donald all entered into the reunion.

Of course, as a pre-teen, she found some of the relatives odd, stuffy, cantankerous and cold.  But she and Donald could have fun on their own, stuff themselves with turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans with fried onion rings, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and mince pies while basically ignoring the 'old folks'.  She particularly recalled how she shied away from Peter, Uncle Arthur's father, a large man with an annoying loud raspy voice, who scared her.  She stayed away from him.  Then there was Aunt Emma, an 'old maid', who lived with Grandma Sprague, but rarely spoke and never laughed.  Uncle Ernie was always kind to her so she readily warmed to him.  He and Aunt Stella and the boys traveled from Buffalo, New York each year, a long trip back then before interstates existed.  Of course, this was the late 1940s, post World War II, and gas rationing had been lifted.  Those war years (1941-1945) had meant little travel by car due to severe gas rationing and with most adults either serving in the armed forces or working long hours in defense companies.  Now that the war was over, families rejoiced in the unhindered ability to visit one another.

So these years were special.  Besides, this was family...her mother's family.  And even though there were odd members in the group, they gathered each year to remember to be thankful.  Peter always said 'Grace', a rather dull, mechanical prayer but it seemed to suffice and everyone was more interested in the food anyway.  The boiled creamed onions and turnips were served with distinction but Janet always begged off on tasting them.

And so the years repeated themselves with the same gathering.  As she thought back to those days many years ago she realized one person stood out...Edith.  Yes, Edith had never married, but unlike Aunt Emma, Edith showed soft, warm, interested love in everyone. She was not a tall woman and with a curved back she seemed even shorter. Her clothes always appeared dowdy, not fashionable, and she had, in Janet's opinion, a horrible Jersey City accent. What was remarkable was her face... unattractive with a prominent nose, several bulbous skin colored moles and prominent teeth.   But her smile radiated through that exterior visage and lit up her countenance.  It seemed to Janet that she held some cherished wonderful secret that defined her and gave her joy.  In her own naive youth, Janet respected Edith and liked her but mostly ignored her.

As the years went by and slowly the older members of the family died, Edith remained.  By this time Janet had married, had four children and amazingly began a musical career.  Of course, this was after she had received her BS in Nursing from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing.  But she had always loved music, always enjoyed singing and thus, after entering several vocal competitions, she sang professionally.  After the Lay Witness Mission at their church she partnered with Jane Douglass White to perform solo evangelistic concerts all over the US and elsewhere.  They became known as performing "Joy and Praise with Janet and Jane".

At one of their concerts, Edith appeared, who was ecstatic at the spiritual awakening in Janet.  Much visiting and conversations followed.  Then came the opportunity to cut a record of their music (33 1/3 LP...this was 1973).  The cost appeared out of reach.  Edith somehow heard of their need, met with Janet and Jane and contributed the funds to cut a record!

Shortly after, Edith became ill and died.  But Edith never complained, even during multiple hospitalizations, lung complications...she continued sharing her smile and glowing with the presence of the Lord.  At Edith's funeral, Janet sang Edith's favorite hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  Yes, Edith was a beautiful woman in spirit.  The Lord radiated His presence through her as she touched the lives of others.

As Janet thought about this special woman she realized what an inspiration Edith had been.  Little known, unobtrusive, never given media coverage, yet Edith had an impact on Janet's life.  What a lesson this was.  We never know how we impact our family and friends around us.  Here Edith stood, physically unattractive in today's culture with curvature of the spine, handicapped by arthritis and breathing problems, yet she powerfully radiated Her trust and love in Jesus Christ as evidenced in her generous financial contributions and her personal conduct through all adversity.  Janet thought about her own challenges post cancer with her struggle of right sided weakness.  Now she knew with certainty.  More important than physical prowess or facial perfection is the presence of Jesus in her life. So she focused on being a positive inspiration to family and friends communicating to them that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior.

How thankful Janet is today as she remembers Edith, this woman of faith, who was part of the family at Thanksgiving but is now part of God's family in Heaven.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father;
 There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
 Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
 As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
 Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
 Morning by morning new mercies I see.
 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
 Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"