Tender Mercies at Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Day.

Father, mother, daughter, son,Neighbor, friend, and friendless;All together everyoneLet grateful days be endless.- Mary Chapin Carpenter, Thanksgiving song lyrics

Counting our blessings is a practice celebrated on Thanksgiving Day.   The fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, and neighbors generally take top billing in our gratitude list, as rightfully they should. It’s like all our best values are on display on this day. There is a spike in volunteerism at soup kitchens and Homeless centers around the holiday.   My own heart is overflowing with thankfulness for my own family and friends. My daughter just started her dream job yesterday and both my kids will be home over the Christmas holidays.Even though the focus of the holiday isn’t typically on material possessions, I want to give thanks for a car. No, not mine (although every time I step into my super safe Subaru I feel like giving thanks). The car I’m honoring today is an Acura RL 2005. As of today this car has found a home in the driveway of a special person.   My friend and colleague has struggled this past year. She has been without a vehicle for the better part of a year. Just for the luxury of transporting herself to her two jobs, she has been spending as much as $600 each month on Uber fees. The Orlando area is not very friendly and barely accessible to a car-less person.Friends have been fretting about Eleanor’s plight when an angel stepped in to help. My friend Sandy contacted her mechanic who located this gem equipped with all the bells and whistles.  Mark fixed up the car at no charge and Eleanor (not real name) was able to drive home in her new ride yesterday. My heart is bursting with joy at this Thanksgiving miracle. Over lunch recently a friend told me about the concept of Tender Mercies in the Mormon faith tradition. These are God moments when everything just seems to come together in grace and goodness. It feels like this Thanksgiving miracle is one of those tender mercies for which I’m utterly grateful.Blessings Be With You All….