My family held many traditions on Thanksgiving Day. My favorite tradition was the prayer before the meal began. Each member would take the hand of the one next to them; we would close our eyes, and give thanks. My grandmother always prayed these beautiful prayers that came from her heart. It is this tradition that I will remember more than any of the others. But there was one year in particular when my family and I knew that something was going to be different. Two days prior to our drive up to Kansas City, Missouri, my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Naturally, we knew there would probably be a little gloom over our heads during the holiday that year. After all, how can someone be thankful when they had just been diagnosed with cancer?
I figured since my brother and I were going into the ministry that one of us could volunteer to pray. I imagined that it would be nearly impossible for someone in my grandmother's situation to be thankful during her troubling times. However, when dinnertime approached, there was an awkward silence as we all gathered around the table for the blessing. I was preparing to blurt out my willingness to pray when my grandmother cleared her throat, grabbed my grandfather's hand, and spoke with tears in her eyes, "Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for the gift of life, the gift of family, and most importantly for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ. And, it was in her last petition that I began to understand how someone suffering could still be thankful during her daily trials. My grandmother's cancer is gone and for that my family rejoices. However, with my grandmother, we rejoice in something far more wonderful than the victory over cancer; we rejoice in the one whom we celebrate during this Advent season. We rejoice over the Christ-child who came into the world to declare and win victory for us over sin, death, and the power of the devil.
THE PRAYER: Our almighty King, during this Advent season we give You thanks for the gift of life, the gift of family, and the gift of hope, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who's glory will be revealed in us. Amen.
Written by Pastor Jacob May
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Hampton, Virginia
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