A Message From John Thrower

A Time for Singing

O come let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

The pies are baking; the aroma of the turkey fills the house.  The smell of coffee and nutmeg thrill the senses with the upcoming feast of Thanksgiving.  If your house is like ours, (and it probably is) there is a great noise of rushing about with preparations and getting the family ready to head out door to the host family's house. 

I know that I will be regularly reminding everyone of the time (“it is now 12:00 PM”) and of what time ("we are walking out the door at 1:30!") we will be leaving the house.  I would like to say that I always use a sweet encouraging voice but I cannot.  Too many times I bark it out as the time gets closer and that only makes everyone tense, myself included.   

This year I want to handle it much differently.  I want to have a real sing- along on Thanksgiving morning as we are getting ready.  We will sing hymns, good old fashioned fun songs and even “Over the River and Through the Woods”.  I want it to be a great Thanksgiving morning.

            I can imagine now how it will change the atmosphere in our house.  A heart that is full of song cannot get too stressed out.  A mouth that is singing does not have any room for hasty or harsh words.  A voice full of melody cannot bring forth impatience or criticism or even anger.  A joyful noise will be ringing through the house and through our hearts. 

            I am very thankful for the family God has given me.  I have a wonderful good-wife, Diana, of 30 years, four children, Audra, Bethany, John and Luke that I love with all my heart and a future son-in-law, John Notgrass.  With all these blessings why do I want to get all hung up on time?  The time spent at home with my family should motivate me to sing unto the Lord. 

            Thanksgiving is for expressing love and thankfulness for our Lord’s blessings.  It is a time of feasting,  remembering, and coming into His presence. This year it will also be a time of singing.