Tune into this program and hear Joni share some Thanksgiving memories that may inspire you at your next gathering!
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SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. It’s Thanksgiving week and we’re all getting ready for Thursday, the big day.
JONI: And I’m getting ready, too. I got my turkey; got my groceries. But no, I still have to put a few finishing touches on my annual Thanksgiving play. You heard me right. Every Thanksgiving I make a note of how many guests will be at our table, and then I compose a little play. It’s short, only 9 or 10 pages of script. Usually, after dessert, I’ll ask family and friends to head to the living room, and Ken and I will pass out my play. Everybody gets assigned a part, and if I can get everybody excited about it, I tell them to, you know, really get into it; act out their lines with flair and drama. One year I wrote a play about a turkey and all his friends in the barnyard. Another year, I wrote about a family who invited an elderly neighbor to dinner who did not know Jesus. And this year, I’ve written a short little play about the pilgrims. Now, it’s not meant to be an accurate portrayal of exactly the way things were that first Thanksgiving back in Massachusetts; it’s just a fun little script, just a short drama to bring everyone together. And, yes, there is singing in my play. If I write a play, it’s going to have a hymn in it, right? And the name of Jesus is in it, too. And prayer, as well.
I try to think of all kinds of ways to minister to my nephews, and Cody and Kyle love participating in Aunt Joni’s plays. We’ve been doing it together for years. After all, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you’re doing.” Sometimes when it comes to young people, we have to be creative. We have to find fun ways to build up a young person’s faith. And you know what? I’d like to share my play with you!
It doesn’t matter how many people will be at your dinner table; you can divvy the parts up in my play however you wish! Just go to joniradio.org right now and download the script. To save paper, print it front to back, and have a couple of people share a script. I promise it’ll be worth the time and the effort. Because I would love the chance to make your Thanksgiving Day an exceptional time with friends and family. So, if you are game, just download my play, print off copies, pass them around to your dinner guests after dessert, and think of it as a Thanksgiving way of putting into practice I Thessalonians 5:11. Encourage one another. Have fun with one another. Build each other up in the faith. And have a great time doing it.
Oh, and one more thing. My husband Ken really, really loves the recipe I use to roast our turkey. And I have posted a photo of him today, carving that yummy bird. It’s always moist and tasty. To be honest, I snatched it off of Martha Stewart’s website years ago, but I’ve added a few things, and I’ve cooked our turkey with that unusual recipe 4 or 5 times now, and it always turns out great. So, if you are up for giving it a try, you can download that recipe for roasting turkey, as well. It’s all there for you at joniradio.org.
But most of all, as we enter this Thanksgiving week, all of us at Joni and Friends pray for peace to reign at your dinner table. We pray for your joy and laughter. We pray for a spirit of gratitude as you take time to share your thanksgivings to God and to each other. The Bible says, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.” The team and I here at Joni and Friends give thanks for you, dear friend. And may it be a wonderful week spreading your gratitude to God to all your family and friends.
SHAUNA: Be sure to visit joniradio.org today.
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