November is an interesting month. In Northern Michigan, leaves lay in a brown blanket on the ground, except for the tenacious oak leaves that cling high on the tree line and remain there until spring. November is sandwiched between the festive seasons of fall and winter, both full of cozy traditions and holiday celebrations. I find it fitting that November has Thanksgiving. A challenge to the most thankful among us. It's not easy to be thankful during the most dreary, brown, rainy month of the year. Thankfulness isn't a happy face you paste on. Thankfulness isn't a vague 'gladness' for things and people. True thankfulness is only possible if you know the One to whom you are thankful. The Giver of life itself. Last November five friends gathered together on the shores of Shear Lake.
The 70 acre spring-fed lake surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest. We enjoyed good conversation, good coffee, walks and the beauty of walking down nostalgia lane. Bumping around two tracks of the Huron National Forest, North Star bowl and of course lots of laughing. One is married with older children now, one is married with a young child, one is married with one on the way, one is married with no children yet, and one is unmarried with no children. Five women in different walks of life, who remain joined by the unity of Christ and the memories of hours of fort building, forest wandering and American Doll playing. Last November after twelve years without the joy of being together, we had so many reasons to be thankful. Thankfulness to the God who graciously gave us each other, and who graciously gave us the greatest gift of all - Himself.
1 Comment
|
Naomi JoyI was born a month early, and to the surprise of my parents, I was a girl! Archives
June 2023
Categories |