Hello Friend. A few traditions around the Perry Thanksgiving Table to share with you today. Growing up, my family had Thanksgiving Dinner only with our immediate family—Sharon's complete opposite. Family, neighbors, and friends of those who were coming were the Sharon Homeyer family Thanksgiving dinner way, as long as you brought something to eat, it worked, or something to drink, it worked, so it was like a community dinner. 

Well, then, after being married for a few years, Sharon and I moved quite a distance away from both of our parents, and we were forced to start our own traditions. So here I go with sharing how I welcome people, pray, thank, and tell a few pieces of the Christian story behind the Thanksgiving history in America. 

A welcome before the food is served, I share something like this, either standing around the dining room table or the kitchen counter:

Friends and Family, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the Thanksgiving table. It is heartwarming to see each of you here, united in a spirit of gratitude and camaraderie. 

As we gather to celebrate this cherished occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on the origins of Thanksgiving. 

The Pilgrims, having faced tremendous challenges during their voyage on the Mayflower over 400 years ago to Cape Cod, just outside of Boston, arrived in an unfamiliar land filled with uncertainty. 

Despite enduring significant hardships and limited rations—often just five kernels of corn per day—their resilience and faith saw them through. 

Ultimately, the next year, in 1621, they celebrated their first harvest alongside their Native friends, fostering a spirit of cooperation and gratitude that lasted among these devout believers for decades.

As we partake in this meal together, let us honor their legacy by expressing our own thankfulness. 

Now, I invite you to join me in prayer for the food and our celebration together: 

Gracious Heavenly Father, as we gather, we thank you for your love for us and the blessings you have given us. We express our sincere gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Thank you for the love of family and friends, and for the meal before us, a symbol of your goodness and provision. May this food nourish our bodies and strengthen our relationships. Let us remember those in need and strive to share your compassion in all we do. On this day of thanksgiving, may our hearts be filled with joy and kindness. And we all said, Amen.

Then we have a family tradition around what we call, the Five Kernels of Corn. Before the food is serve, we set on each plate a few pieces of corn.

I don't tell the whole story every year about the Five Kernels of Corn, but I do want our family to explain to their guests why we have the tradition of a few small pieces of corn on the table.

My story goes something like this: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I invite you to contemplate the Five Kernels of Corn, a tradition rooted in the experiences of the early Pilgrims who faced many hardships, including year one in 1620, when they had to live on the ration of a few kernels of corn a day. 

The first kernel represents our gratitude for God's provisions, encouraging us to recognize and cherish the blessings in our lives. 

The second kernel symbolizes hope, reflecting the Pilgrims’ determination to overcome challenges while keeping their faith in divine support. 

The third kernel emphasizes the importance of community, highlighting the strength that comes from our unity. 

The fourth kernel is a tribute to faith, which uplifts us in difficult times. 

Finally, the fifth kernel embodies the idea of sharing, urging us to reach out and extend our blessings to others, in line with Jesus's teachings. 

Together, these kernels remind us to embrace a life filled with gratitude and generosity as we gather to celebrate this beloved tradition of freedom and liberty for all. 

Finally, one of our famous traditions that releases laughter, tears, healing, and, reconciliation is a time in which each person gives thanks. This is a beautiful tradition where each person at the table shares something they are thankful for from the past year. We usually do this after the meal, once everyone is comfortably full, and before dessert, we go around the table clockwise, starting with me to set an example for any guests. 

Some folks keep it brief, sharing their gratitude in under a minute, while others may take their time, sharing a heartfelt story that can last up to ten minutes. Regardless of how much time each person takes, it’s a meaningful moment for everyone to feel appreciated and connected through shared thanks.

Thanks for letting me share a few of our Thanksgiving traditions with you. I would love to hear about any of your holiday or birthday traditions. Please feel free to email, text, or send a voice recording of how you celebrate giving thanks.

I look forward to learning about what makes your holiday memorable.

May the Lord richly bless you with peace, wisdom, and joy this holiday season. I pray that your extended family will all come to Jesus, acknowledge God in their lives, and experience his love in new profound way. May your family be saved, healed, and delivered in a greater measure and in a greater way, for the glory of God. 

Praying His blessings be upon you! 

Grace and peace,

Bob