November 18, 2011 · 6:00 am
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we have time to do…everything {Thanksgiving edition}

Well, we have time to do everything HE has for us to do.

But we get it all twisted. We add things to His list for our today — thirteen extra “necessities” that will make life better. We squeeze them in until we’ve run ourselves ragged. Then stressed, we snap at those we love and bark orders so we can get our list accomplished.

Meanwhile, faces grow blurry.



photo credit: stacey haines
(Can you tell which one is mine?)


So I’ve decided to set us free before all the Thanksgiving preparations overtake us. You ready?



Canned pumpkin isn’t evil.
Frozen rolls taste great.
People don’t need eighteen dessert choices.
And they will throw away those individually, hand-crafted Mayflower place cards.
The windows will just get fingerprints on them…again.
We don’t have to redecorate our entire home in leaf motif.
And the bed linens we already own are fine.


Because the day will fly by.

Those generations ahead of us, sitting quiet on the sofa, have amazing stories to pass along. Sisters and brothers and nephews and moms need an encouraging word. And we’ll blink a couple of times and the young ones at the kids’ table will be driving cars and saying, “I do.”

We have time to do every single thing that He has for us to do today. Everything. So let’s make a Thanksgiving edition of the “what I won’t do” list and then stick with it. Let’s pause and ask His opinion before saying “yes” to something that will just steal away the brief time. We don’t want to miss the faces because details consumed us.


Fill me, Lord…

So tell me, what won’t you do this Thanksgiving?

22 Comments

Filed under daily filling

  • http://twitter.com/stacey29lincoln Stacey29lincoln

    I won’t travel for Thanksgiving. We stay home. We love our little family traditions. In fact we don’t even “do” Thanksgiving on Thursday. We celebrate Wed. night and sleep in on Thursday. Oh, and we put up our tree.

    So thankful for you Lara!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      Sounds lovely. :) We have the weekend tree tradition. So fun. xoxo

  • Anonymous

    I’m hosting thanksgiving as well again this year-
    We will not have 4 kinds of potatoes.
    We will not have tons of desserts.
    We will have a simple store bought veggie tray for appetizers and snacking (because we all need to be healthier).
    I will not but special clothes for my boys.
    I will stop and count gifts!!

    Love you girl!!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      Love you, friend. Setting boundaries right with you.

  • http://twitter.com/becomingjoyful Patti

    Love this and love your heart, girl! Your mini-Me is adorable in her cow-girl boots. :-) What I’m not doing is hosting! I get to show up and enjoy. Ahhh.

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      Ha. Mini-me. I can’t deny that one. ;) And I’m not hosting either. Ahh.

  • Sharykay

    Oh my, Lara. What perfect timing! We actually just ordered MUCH of our Thanksgiving meal. Our son told me I am NOT cooking this year. We have a tiny house and will have eighteen people for dinner. I make a large breakfast and the big meal is later in the afternoon (probably after the Green Bay Packer game). I am stressing today though because of preparing for the NYC kids arrival – washing bed linens, general cleaning, just a little baking and a service project at the pregnancy care center. CANNOT be two places at once.

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      It’s sometimes freeing to order out! Blessings as you determine what to pick up and what to lay down. :)

  • Chrisjennjax

    I won’t complain about the places I have to go in such a short amount of time. I will go with a smile on my face remembering how blessed I am to have so man family members who love me and look forward to seeing me and my family on the holidays!
    Thank you for this reminder!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      I love the “what I won’t do” lists! “Not complaining”! So good. Blessings, sister-friend. And happy Thanksgiving!

  • http://fruitinseason.blogspot.com Christine- Fruit in Season

    You are such a blessing in how you speak directly to my heart.

    This Thanksgiving, I will not:

    use nice dishes
    have a pretty centerpiece
    get out of my jammies till 2 or 3 (we’re not hosting or visiting this year)

    Then we’ll unabashedly listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas videos, put up our tree, and snuggle all weekend!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      Jammies til 2?! AWESOME! Sounds like such a great day. xoxo

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Caroline-Brown-Kolbet/1405655919 Caroline Brown Kolbet

    In the past, Thanksgiving was spent at my Uncle’s house on the family farm. We would show up, eat, clean up, & then divvy out ridiculous amounts of Christmas presents; presents for aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins’s children, etc., etc., etc. A couple of years ago I decided to “break the family tradition” and offer up the fact that being together this one time a year is thankful enough for me…we don’t need any of that “stuff”…plus money was tight for everybody. I am happy to say that now, only a few of us participate with the not buying Christmas presents for everybody’s girlfriend’s cousin’s hamster…and that’s just fine with this turkey!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      You just made me laugh out-loud, “everybody’s girlfriend’s cousin’s hamster.” Ha! So true! Glad to see you’ve been freed. ;) Blessings to you, sister.

  • Anonymous

    Oh, sister. I needed this today.

    I will not…
    Travel – this is our first set of holidays in our own place and we want to forge new traditions
    Host – my parents will come over for dinner, but we’re not doing a big party
    Cook a Turkey – I will delegate this one to my mom
    Mope – over the fact that my hubby has a 12 hour shift on Thanksgiving…we will still celebrate

    I will…
    Count Blessings – I want to cultivate this attitude year-long, not just this one day
    Snuggle – my boys need some cuddles and love from me, I will be available
    Do Something Creative – maybe the tree will go up!
    Be a Blessing – to my boys, my family, and my King

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      Lovely, my friend. You WILL be a blessing. I’m certain of it. {hugs}

  • Shana Voss

    We DO travel. We DO cook the traditional meal. We DO eat on pretty dishes & a nice table cloth. But we absolutely love to do all those things and we have a wonderful time doing it. It’s ok to make homemade rolls, eat on the good china, and bake 5 pies. But we do it together as a family and make wonderful memories while we are at it.

    What we won’t do is complain, get frustrated when the kids spill their milk, or mope that more of our family can’t join us for the “DO” things.

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      You’re the woman, girlfriend! And I know you will do it with great grace. Much love to you. And happy Thanksgiving.

  • Laura

    I love this post & have been thinking of this in general for several weeks. We are traveling to my father-in-laws for Thanksgiving & will be there most of the week. I won’t be cleaning & I won’t be cooking. I am actually looking forward to being away:)!

  • http://www.gracetags.com Janelle@GraceTags

    Love this, Lara. And the picture!

    We’re staying home, staying in, this Thanksgiving. Just the five of us. My husband is making Italian food, so excited!

    I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing time with your family.

    Janelle
    GraceTags

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