Thankful for the Long Road
Psalms 139:5-6 — You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
The road out of town stretches ahead, lined with pines that never seem to end.
My husband drives steady. One hand rests on the wheel, the other taps to a song playing on the radio. I glance back at our baby girl, sound asleep in her car seat. We’re headed to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving lunch.
It’s not a long drive—forty-five minutes or so. But as the miles wind on, my thoughts take an unexpected detour down memory lane.
Growing up in a blended family, this was all I knew—lunch at one house, supper at another, pie somewhere in between. There was always a plan scribbled on the back of an envelope, and by the end of the day, I felt like I’d run a marathon fueled by turkey and dressing.
It started in Monroe, wound through Crowville, looped back through Calhoun, and somehow we’d make it home before bedtime.
It used to wear me out. But now? It just makes me grateful.
The trees flash by—gold, red, fading green. Somewhere, a cousin is smoking a turkey. Somewhere else, a table is being set by grandparents with plastic plates and old stories. I can almost smell the ham roasting in the oven, the sweet potatoes bubbling under toasted marshmallows, and the sound of laughter spilling through screen doors.
Back then, I never stopped long enough to see it. I only saw the hurry. But now, I see the love underneath the rush. Parents, step-parents, and kin just wanted us close. They opened their doors even when we could only stay a little while.
They still do.
No pressure. No guilt. Just warmth.
Though we’re pulled in a million directions, they make room in their hearts for our crazy schedule—because they understand.
I smile, watching the road twist ahead of us. This long, winding road called life is filled with people God has placed along the way—people to love, and who love us back in their own imperfect, beautiful ways. It hits me how blessed I am.
And maybe that’s what gratitude really is—seeing the fingerprints of God in the middle of our everyday miles. Just like the psalmist tells us, God places His hand of blessing all along our lives. He goes before us and follows behind. It is too wonderful and too great to even understand. (Psalm 139:5–6)
So, wherever the road takes you this Thanksgiving—whether it’s across town or just across the table—I want to encourage you to do one thing today. Try to notice the many blessings along the way.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- How have you noticed God’s hand guiding or blessing you in the everyday moments of life?
- Are there relationships or small acts of love around you that reveal God’s presence?
- How might practicing gratitude for the ordinary moments change your perspective today?
