Thankfuls, 2016

I normally write this the night before Thanksgiving as a means of procrastinating instead of writing a sermon for Thanksgiving morning. But I’m not preaching this year, so I had to procrastinate by not writing this list until this morning.

Every night, Erika and I gather on the floor of the room shared by Anders and Torsten. We pray, asking each boy and Greta to share what they’re thankful for that day. Here’s my list of thankfuls for this year:

• New colleagues in ministry
• Martin, Slovakia and its fine people
• Salvador Perez – silver slugger, golden glove
• Anders, his focus and his joy
• Mr. Bobhead
• Prayer retreats at Mount Carmel
• The 1100 block of Wenonah
• Kids who are starting, ever so slowly, to sleep longer
• Robert Farrar Capon, whose work is ever fresh
• Diet Dr. Pepper
• Torsten, the cutest little maniac there is
• The Cantor who is more than “just” a Cantor
• Dinotrux
• Wrigley Field
• LBW 123 and 456
• My Job action figure, reminding me it could always be worse
• Pizza
• Washington Island
• Cantatas
• Greta, who knows how important it is to be kind
• The Royals, even though they didn’t win it all
• LEGO sets
• The staff and the people of Grace
• Word and sacrament
• Laughter
• Cuddling with our kiddos
• Pastor Kersten
• French’s French Fried Onions
• Star Wars pajama pants
• The gift of being called to proclaim the gospel
• Road trips
• Watching the Cubs celebrate with sleepy Greta
• Summer meals on the deck
• Erika. Always Erika
• Knowing, and being known by, Jesus Christ

Happy Thanksgiving! May your tables and your hearts be full, today and each day of the coming year.