by B.J. Armstrong

November woods are bare and still,
November days are clear and bright,
Each noon burns up the mornings chill,
The morning's snow is gone by night.
--Helen Hunt Jackson

November comes between autumn and winter. The trees are bare, and the dead leaves have lost the pretty colors they once had. The weather is usually ideal for football and people do not seem to mind sitting in the cool air to watch

a game.

Then of course, there's Thanksgiving, celebrated on the 4th Thursday of the month. November should be called the Thankful month because we have so much to be thankful for. Also, we can forget our diets and enjoy the food and

good fellowship with family and friends.
Yes, giving thanks and praise to God. In this day and age, God is left out a lot of times. In the early days of home-taught children, the Bible was central to their training. The teachings of Scripture permeated our culture,  our politics, and our homes. Perhaps, that is why

George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day, declaring it a day for the nation to "remember and honor the Great Ruler of the nation ..[pouring out] His mercies uniquely upon us and ...[giving] us prosperity."

We need to get back to the family. The dinner table should be a time of togetherness. A day to talk about the day's happenings. A time when we can all be together as a family. Reader, when the family and God are gone from our lives, our world is on a downhill slide.

When scripture fell from its position of honor in our country, it took with it the few remaining values that held the home together. G.K. Chesterton said, "It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Also, it is worse than that. When they stop believing in God, they will believe in anything."

When home and family fail, something of value fails. For the sake of God's

Kingdom and His great eternal purposes, we must not let go of the home. We must not allow society to dictate its values on us, nor squeeze us into its mold. America is forgetting family values. When this happens, America will collapse.

Life is full of memories, especially at holidays. This year, design your own Thanksgiving memories. Plan a holiday tradition that is unique and suited to your own individual family. Maybe its watching football games. Doing a family puzzle together. Going for a bike ride after eating dessert. Whatever the plans, make it memorable. Remembering to give "thanks" to God first of all. And everything will be done in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

This might even be your prayer that day....Our Heavenly Father; Help me to make this holiday a memorable time for family and friends. Thank you, Lord for giving us so many blessings for which I wish to thank you. May I remember to thank you daily, not just on holidays. Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving.

"My great concern is not whether God is on our side; my great concern is to be on God's side."
___Abraham Lincoln
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