Thanksgiving Day - And The Mysterious Realization

Thanksgiving Day is soon approaching.  In our home we’ll have relatives from out of State.  We’ll have food coming out of our ears.  Oh yes, one of my favorite times of the year. 
 
By the way, I make a turkey that is to die for, which my family is crazy about.  But before I get too hungry talking about one of my favorite pastimes – food, let me ask you this:  What is your Thanksgiving Day celebration usually like?   What are you normally thankful for?
 
Years ago I was reminded of something to be thankful for.  Normally, we go around the table and share with others what we are thankful for.  In the process, I recognized that I should be thankful for things I didn’t realize I should be thankful for.
                             
In other words, it dawned on me that I needed to be thankful for those things I didn’t notice God had done for me – you know – the hidden things that God often doesn’t reveal.  The things I’m referring to are:  provisions, angels protecting you, or his plans being worked out in seemingly mysterious ways. 
 
This reminded me of a story that came across my desk – in fact, it was in my hard drive and to this day I can’t remember how I got it or where it came from. 

But here’s the story I want to share it with you.
 
One afternoon a shopper at the local mall felt the need for a coffee break.  She bought herself a little bag of cookies and put them in her shopping bag. 
 
She then got in line for coffee.  After paying for her coffee, she found a place to sit at one of the crowded tables.  She proceeded to take the lid off her coffee cup, take out a magazine, she began to sip her coffee and read. 
 
Across the crowded table from her a man sat reading a newspaper.
 
After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie.  As she did, the man seated across the table reached out and took one too.  This put her off, but she did not say anything.
 
A few moments later she took another cookie.  Once again the man did so too.  Now she was getting a bit upset, but still she did not say anything.
 
After having a couple of sips of coffee she once again took another cookie.  So did the man.  By this time her blood stated to boil – hotter than the coffee she was sipping on - especially since now only one cookie was left.    
 
Apparently the man also realized that only one cookie was left.  Before she could say anything he took it, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded to eat the other half himself.  Then he smiled at her and, putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off.

Giving Thanks Blesses The Person Who Is Thanked And It Transforms The Person Giving Thanks. - Alex Colon

Boy was she steamed! 
 
Her coffee break was ruined, already thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her family; she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag to insert her magazine, and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies.
 
I like that story - it reminds me of how well God treats me even when I am not treating him well or thinking all that kindly about him. 
 
It reminds me that even during those times when I should’ve paid attention, not be rude and be kind to others, he still shares his goodness with me.
 
It also makes me think about how sometimes I don’t really appreciate what I have thanks to his provisions.
 
It serves as a kind of reminder to me – to be thankful even for those things I didn’t realize he has done for me.
 
How about you?  Have you been made aware that you have been taken care of even when you didn’t realize you were?   What can you be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day that you hadn’t realized before?