Healing Hearts this Thanksgiving
Unifying this country can begin with you this Thanksgiving. It has been a difficult election season, filled with emotions that have created division among families and friends. Why not use the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner to focus on mending the hearts and forgiving those we might have offended? Someone has to start the healing, and you can do it!
Consider this small prayer to smooth those hurt feelings and recover cracked relationships: Lord, open your eyes to us who are in need of your loving care as we struggle through divisive times. Let us pray for peace in the world and within us, and may I bring peace and love to those near me. Amen.
On a lighter note
Because our family has always had very different political views, at holidays, my daughter always has a box outside her door with a big sign that says, “Leave your political views and opinions here and we will enjoy our feast.”
Cranberry dipping sauce
For a little healthier Thanksgiving, try this dipping sauce for your turkey. It’s delicious. I discovered it when I couldn’t handle the rich turkey gravy.
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen or fresh cranberries
- 2 cups orange juice
- 3 cups ginger ale
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Zest from one orange peel
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, (stainless steel is best)and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
- Pour into a blender or using a stick blender, puree until smooth. Check for salt and pepper and serve either a gravy bowl or individual dishes at each place setting.
Serves 12. Make half the recipe for smaller groups!
For leftovers, make a turkey wrap and dip in the leftover sauce (reheated or cold).
Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer
Start your meal with your favorite prayer or try this one:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the food before us and we pray for the hungry. We thank you for health as we remember the sick. We thank you for friends as we remember the friendless. We thank you for freedom and we pray for the enslaved. Let us always remember those who have less and live with compassion, kindness, and generosity. May we carry gratitude in our hearts and extend it through our actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.