The Thankful Child

Lindsey was having a hard time making ends meet. With her needing to stay home with little Isaac and her husband, Eric, working practically around the clock, she felt like playing the game of "Catch Up" would never stop. Relaxation, relief, and finally taking a breath felt forever away. Maybe they were. But she knew that this year she would make Thanksgiving the best one her family had ever had. Maybe their past Thanksgivings weren't exactly the greatest, but that didn't mean that Lindsey couldn't create new memories and traditions for her family. Family didn't mean focusing on what she didn't have, it meant focusing on what she did have. 

She closed her Bible and set it on the coffee table beside the couch she was lounging on. "God, You never fail to amaze me." She shook her head at the world God created around her. How does it all just work . . . so perfectly? The leaves change colors, You paint the sunsets and sunrises, You orchestrate everything, and it's all perfectly designed, just like how You created it to be. 

"Mommy!" Isaac hollered from upstairs. 

"Coming, sweetie!" She hurried to help him with his storybook. He was trying to create one about superheroes, but didn't know how to spell yet. When she walked into his room she found papers full of masterpieces that told the story of a new superhero. Maybe he'd write books someday? Or maybe he'd want to be like the superheroes in his stories? 

"Help me write the story?" he said as he held up a black marker. 

"Of course." She smiled, sitting down next to him. "What do you want it to say?" 

He looked at her with her pen poised in the air, ready to write. "A bunny was in trouble," he said as he looked at the first picture. 

She wrote down the line and looked at him, anticipating the unpredictable words that would continue the story. 

He put on his thinking face, and what he said next surprised her. 

"Jesus talked to the bunny..." 

And as soon as he said the name "Jesus," she froze and stared at her little boy, his sentence trailing off. All those Sunday School classes, all those Bible stories she told him, and every prayer really infused Jesus into his life. Her little boy just simply believed. 

"Mommy?" His change of tone grabbed her attention. 

"Yeah, sweetie?" 

"Did you write it down?" 

"Oh, I'm sorry. Can you say it again?"

He let out a sigh, even though he wasn't very far into the story at all. "From the beginning?!" 

"No, no, no. Where Jesus was talking." 

He smiled. "Oh, okay. Umm . . . Jesus talked to the bunny and told her to trust him. Then, after the bunny said she trusted Jesus, He picked her up and never let go." 

She froze again. How did his simple words impact her so much? She noticed that he was waiting for her to write, so she set the pen to the paper and wrote out the story. 

He continued on, "When Jesus helped the bunny to be safe, He told her that He would always be there for her, no matter what. Always." 

As she copied his words down, realization hit her that her own son understood Jesus' love more than a lot of adults she knew. 

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, writing his story and playing a bunch of games. Lindsey had already made a lot of the Thanksgiving preparations in advance, but still had a bunch of things to throw together. Like every year, they rotated—someone on her side of the family would host Thanksgiving, and then they'd visit someone on her husband's side. This year it was their turn and her side of the family would be there in just an hour. Eric was due home fifteen minutes ago, so she called him, wondering if he'd be there for the arrival of their guests. 

"I just needed to stop by my parents to say hi. I should be home in—" 

Ding dong. 

"They're here early?" 

"Just me." Eric smiled. 

"Very funny. Hi." She returned his smile. "Isaac, Daddy's home!" 

The little boy came running and ran right into Eric, wrapping his little arms around his legs. 

"Whoa there, buddy." He paused. "Hey, something smells fantastic." He grinned. He knew good food when he smelled it. He picked up Isaac in his arms and made his way to the kitchen. 

As he reached for an hors d'oeuvre, he found Isaac pointing his finger at him, signaling that Dad was breaking the rules. "No, no. Those are for dinner, Mom said." 

"Wow. My own son is better at following rules than I am." He laughed. 

Everyone got changed into some nicer clothes and just before the doorbell rang, Lindsey found Eric reading to Isaac. As she looked closer, she saw that it was the little book they had made earlier that day. She couldn't help but smile. This is what she was thankful for. 

Ding dong.

Eric picked up Isaac and let him run to the door, ready to greet family. "Just in time. We just finished." 

As they strode down the stairs, she asked, "So, how did you like it?" 

"I didn't know he was such a storyteller, to be honest. I mean, I knew he told stories, but that one was so sweet and simple, it—it was perfect." 

Isaac was excitedly waiting at the front door, since he knew he wasn't allowed to open it for anyone. 

Lindsey grabbed the doorknob and found her family standing before her. "Hi!" She smiled. "Come on in." They talked for a little bit while Lindsey was setting up the food just perfectly, and then it was time to eat. But before doing so, they all stood in a circle and held hands, praying. After, everyone dished up their food, sat down, and then said something they were all thankful for. 

Eric decided to go first. "I'd have to say that I'm thankful for all the gifts I've been given. Not just this year, but throughout my life. I was given so many opportunities and now here I am. I have a wife, a son, a house, a great job, and I couldn't be happier." 

Lindsey's father was next. "I'm thankful for God's provision. He has provided for us in ways we don't even know about. He provided a way for your mother and I to meet—" he looked to his side— "which led to a family of our own, and now this little angel," he smiled at Isaac. "God has always provided for us." He nodded then looked at his wife. 

Her mother smiled. "I'm thankful for peace. Even though this year has been rocky, I'm thankful for peace. I had some medical scares, but I didn't worry much through it all. If I passed, I'd get to see Jesus, and if I didn't, I'd get to share more about Him. It's a win-win for me." Everyone chuckled and then it was Lindsey's turn. 

"I'm thankful for my family. Even though I work like crazy—and I could only do that with God's help—at the end of the day, it's so much more than worth it. My family is safe, healthy, cared for, provided for, and loved." She smiled and looked down, thinking about just how lucky and blessed she was. She was a wife, a mom, and got to stay home and watch her little boy grow up. What more could she want? 

It was little Isaac's turn. "Thank you for Jesus." He put simply and smiled. 

Everyone's hearts melted right then and there. The young boy was thankful for the greatest gift of all, when he could have been thinking about his toys, movies, friends—anything—but he was thankful for Jesus. 

Isaac looked at Lindsey with concern. He knew that crying meant being sad. "Mommy, what's wrong?" 

She smiled and reassured him, "Nothing's wrong, honey. Mommy's just happy and loves you." 

"I love you, too." He smiled. 

As they ate dinner, Lindsey thought to herself, This is the best Thanksgiving ever. Thank you, Jesus. Maybe she should have faith like a little child more often. 

~The Inspired One