Hey, Sweet Things!
I’m writing this to you the afternoon before Thanksgiving. I will be too covered in family to have much time for written reflections on the actual day. I’m here by myself at my house of so many years. From where I’m sitting at our big round dinner table (my favorite piece of furniture in my house), I can see the top of the stairs. It seems like only yesterday, two little blond girls stood at the top of those stairs with their nightgowns on, their blankets clutched tightly in their arms, and adorable little bedheads, looking down at me in the kitchen, saying, “Is it morning yet, Mommy?”
It usually wasn’t what any decent sleeper could ever call morning but who can resist warm, snuggly preschoolers fresh out from under the covers? Especially if they hadn’t wet the bed? And, thank God, I was spared a pair of bedwetters. It really was yesterday that I saw two other children those same ages apart at the top of those same stairs, both with an uncanny resemblance to the first two. “Bibby, can I have a treat? And milk? Or juice? And can it be chocolate?”
“The juice or the treat, Buddy?”
Thinks for a moment.
“The TREAT!”
Good choice.
Well, that’s what the oldest one said anyway. The younger one just echoed, “Treat, Bibby! Treat!” I was standing within three feet of that one. She only gets to be arm’s distance from Bibby most of the time.Her smile melts my heart. Her little short pony tail slays me. And her miniature track suit is more than I can bear. I can’t stop laughing over the mysterious fact that, when you ask her what her (hard-to-pronounce) name is, she emphatically says, “Paw Paw.” You can imagine that Keith isn’t about to be the voice of reason. He likes things just like they are.
I feel so thankful today. And not because it’s been a sparklingly spotless year for the extended Moore/Jones/Fitzpatrick family because it hasn’t. Is any whole year like that?? Any whole month?? It’s certainly not for this flawed crew. I feel gratitude because God has been gracious to us and right there with us through every up and down. I don’t know about your house but life can be a roller coaster here at this address. He’s kept His word to us even when we didn’t keep ours to Him. He is always better than He has to be.
Sometimes we just need the quiet to reflect on His goodness. I’m getting that today. Keith’s running errands. The dogs are outside. Sweet potatoes are cooling off on the kitchen counter and I just pulled a large iron skillet of cornbread (yes, drenched in bacon grease) out of the oven.
It’s everything I can do not to tear off a piece of that hot cornbread and butter it and shut my eyes and be back for just a moment in my mama’s kitchen with her and my grandmother. They’d crumble theirs up in “sweet milk” and eat it with a spoon but I wouldn’t. I’d just laugh at their wonderful countryside and eat mine like I was mostly city side, except for licking my fingers and maybe my hand. And they’d say in unison, “Well, you’re snubbin’ your betters.” I miss them so much today but I’ll try to do them right with my turkey and dressing. Thoughts like these make me grin really big and feel like I could cry if I’d let myself.
But I won’t. Because I’m too busy.
Georgia Jan (who I became friends with through Siestaville) and I have already compared notes today on our dressing recipes. The holidays make us want to reach out and connect with people who have touched us through the year. Or through a lifetime. Thanksgiving is about so much more than cooking and traveling. We all know that. It’s about being audaciously deliberate in celebrating the goodness of God with at least a few people you really love. Or maybe just really like. Even for one day. People as quirky as you are. And probably because they’re kin to you.
Here are a few things I feel especially thankful for today:
For a belief system where we can have absolute certainty of our salvation.We know this isn’t it. We know where we’re going and it’s good. We know that this turns out very well.
For a belief system where nothing – not even your worst disaster or failure – gets wasted.
For a belief system where every day is a new day and every act of repentance is a brand new beginning.Who has that but us???
For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the entirety of my belief system.
For His indwelling Spirit who enables me to be so different than the old me. And different tomorrow from today’s me.
For the sacred holy Scriptures. Oh, thank You, Lord. My food and my drink.
For my man. Every year we defy the odds. He just walked in the door and kissed me on the forehead. I’m thankful we’re at it again.
For the inestimable, ongoing gift of my blood daughters, Amanda Moore Jones and Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick. My best friends. I really don’t know what a soul mate is exactly but, as best I can tell, they’re both mine. I never have a thought they’re not some part of, in this way or that.
For my three beloved sons, each “my true son” in the spirit of the Apostle Paul’s words to Titus: Curtis Jones, Colin Fitzpatrick, and Travis Cottrell. They are that to me. Trav and me on a speed walk in Rapid City, South Dakota, last Friday morning:
Oh, mercy, for my darlings, Jackson and Annabeth. If life is a meal, they are my constant dessert. From the backseat of the car just a few days ago:
(At the age where he makes goofy faces but there still ain’t no denying he’s one handsome boy.)
For my co-laborers in the great Gospel of Jesus Christ at LPM. “The Village.” I love them so much.
For my extended family on both sides. Blood brothers and sisters and the same in-laws for decades. For the inexpressible privilege of having my older sister, Gay, back in my everyday life. Not a day goes by that I take that for granted.
For Keith’s parents and, gracious me, at this point my own: John and Sue Moore. We want them next to us for the rest of their years.
For the unspeakable gift of spiritual daughters. I did not see that one coming. DELIGHT.
For my dear friends. The kind that have had my personal cell number since my first phone. And don’t mind carrying on a whole lot of relationship by text.
For my pastor, Gregg Matte, and his wife, Kelly, and their two children. For the church family they shepherd. I’ve never seen one exactly like it.
For my neighbors who love me even though they think I’m a tad whacked.
For renewed physical strength and health. I was one sick girl this time last year.
For YOU.
Yep, you, Siestaville. I thank God for you. You’ve made my life richer in Jesus. And at the end of the day, that’s what I care most about.
For just this moment, I picture all of you on this list right here at my small table and I smile.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:6-9
I have so much to be grateful for & have thanked God profusely over the last couple of days, but last night as I sat in the ER waiting for the results of an x-ray to see if my shoulder was broken I just smiled & prayed. I sure know where my strength comes from! When the dr. told me it was NOT broken, just a bad sprain, I praised God again!! He grinned & said this would be much more painful than if it was broken, but the fact that I knew God had been with me through the fall made me very happy. I won’t deny it-it’s pretty painful & I’m not one that likes to take a lot of pain meds but with His strength, I’ll be fine in a couple of days!
Now I pray that all of you will have a beautiful Christmas season!
THANK YOU – Beth, for your continued willingness (not sure it is even a choice for you!) to be so incredibly transparent about all you hold dear; to all of you siestas who are so encouraging to me. It has been a bit of a lonely week for this siesta, right in the middle of my own extended family, of which I am sure many of you can relate. Was biting everyone’s head off yesterday and with much of my extended family not believers and knowing that I am, it just added to my already incredible frustration. Needed some alone time with the Lord and then some words from those with whom I have an eternal perspective. All of you. The Lord gave that to me this morning, while my husband is gone, my three girls and my niece sleep peacefully on our living room floor and I am able to regroup and fill-up through His word and all of you. Thank you, Beth, for continuing with what must be absolutely divine levels of energy as you continue to pour so much of what processes in that amazing brain of yours and that incredibly generous heart into all of us. This siesta continues to be incredibly impacted for over ten years now. Who you are and your ability and willingness to share it in such a unique way – all you’ve suffered, celebrated and conquered through Him – it matters to me – I’m sure to all of us. God’s amazing love and peace pour over you and yours this weekend of so much thanksgiving.
Well said my dear, i sooo agree!!Beth you have been a blessing in my life this past year!! Iam thankful for the love you share with us!!!
GOD Bless You!!
Kim Binnie Wa.
Living in cold Michigan, I’m so thankful for a warm house that’s paid off, heat in my car and a new furnace that works wonderfully. I’m thankful for a job that God so lovingly favored me with and for a husband who is a great provider. So many things that are crappy in my life, but there’s always someone with something worse. I’m even thankful for Kid Rock’s song “I’m Free” that he sang at half time during the Detroit Lions game on Thanksgiving day. Looking forward to our David study starting in January. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
i thought this thanksgiving would be so hard (my 22-year-old nephew dies unexpectedly less than a year ago.) in fact, i spent all of wednesday crying. your post was helpful for putting things in perspective. and then, it was good. just so good. to be together and to love and live. and i am thankful. God is so good.
Hope your thanksgiving was great! I loved your pic of you walking in Rapid City. South Dakota is home for me and I got so excited when I saw that. Hope your days are full of God’s blessings, love ya!
Beth and family,
May the Spirit of Christmas Dazzle in your hearts!!!
I hope you don’t have any “COTTON-HEADED-NUGGIE-MUGGIN” moments during the Holidays!!! YES~ Dave and I watched ELF last night with laughter as we cuddled up together by the fire and gave thanks for our family and friends!!
On a serious note,
As I sit at my computer, in California, reading and viewing the precious photos, my heart is filled with joy.
May I say, Thank you for all that you are,have done, and continue to do for the body of Christ in Siestaville.
I too, had a staircase that had similar memories, only different faces.
I have so much that I want to say and write and the tears are just flowing from my eyes.
Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart ~
Kim Safina
I thank God for you, today, Beth. My 11 y/o daughter and I attended your live event in Lexington (Eat, Pray, Love). It was such a bonding time for us. I look forward to the day our relationship matures to “soul mate” status.
Blessings,
Sandy
Oh, Beth. I would love to be around that table with you. I just got back today from my final Thanksgiving dinner. (I don’t even want to think about how many hours of cardio I’m going to have to do to work all that food!) I’ve only really had two dinners, but it feels like more. This last one with my in-laws who’ve found it easier to accpet me, it seems than my own biological family does. They rarely talk to me. I’m as different from my redneck in-laws as anyone possibly can be, but I adore them! And best of all, I’m pretty sure they feel the same way about me! It took me a while to get comfortable with them and their…um…kind of strange ways…to me, anyway. My mother would have kiiled me if I acted that way in public or even in private, but I think we’ve found a good balance and learned to respect each other, and our, uh…boundaries, I guess. I’ve loosened up a bit and they’ve learned that there are some things that just really don’t amuse me. Having been around rednecks a lot yourself, I’m sure you know exactly what I mean! The other Thanksgiving dinner was with some wonderful Christian brothers and sisters at my church! God has blessed me indeed! Shouldn’t have, but He does anyway!
Love you so much, Beth!! And praising God that my 5-year-old son and I had a BIG talk last night and I got to watch him fold his little hands and pray for Jesus to come into his heart and to bring His Holy Spirit to stay there with him. I am OVERJOYED and so thankful to God… He took a the mess that I was and brought me to a place where I could lead my youngest to want to know Jesus! You helped along the way, too, Beth! Happy, happy day! 🙂
That’s awesome!!! So happy for you!! My son was about that age when he put his trust in God and he’s still walking with Him 10 years later 🙂 PRAISE GOD!!
J.T.
Happy Thanksgiving! As a former Arkansas girl (Camden), I would LOVE to have an Arkansas-style dressing recipe like I remember from my childhood. Would love it if you would share your recipe with us, Beth! I can’t find one that lives up to what I remember, and my mom is no longer able to provide it for us. Thanks so much! There’s still Christmas dinner! Loved all the recipes, although I am a little late reading them.
Thanks Beth for always reminding us of what is real in this life and what matters….
With much gratitude for your friendship through Siestaville!
Ann
P.S. I love seeing the pics of your round table etc…makes me feel like I am there having coffee with you!
This doesn’t necessarily go with this post, but …
I so appreciate how Beth is always encouraging us to memorize the Word. When I was in college I went through the Navigators Topical Memory System and many of those scriptures are still in my heart for the Lord to use. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten lazier with the scripture memory, but I did try to do the last Siesta memory verse deal that Beth had for us (hoping that another one is coming in 2012). BUT today, I found an app for my iphone that is based on the Navigators TMS!!!! I’m sooooooo excited. You iphone users may already be aware, but I’m thinking this is pretty exciting and I just had to pass it on!
Blessings!
Oh precious Beth!!! Thank you for taking the time to share with us your heart. It always blesses me so. This year I’m most thankful and deeply grateful for our God who restored my steps and put hope back in my steps when it comes to His church and His people. Its been a hard journey but I’m so thrilled to land where we have all landed as a family.
I’ll see you in Birmingham. Every single day the Lord presses in on my heart for each of you that will teach us and I just pray “Lord, may they love you like no other time and may they be thrilled to open the pages with us.”
I’m praying. I am so grateful you showed me Jesus.
Love,
Fran
Jackson TN
Beth- I just wanted to share my latest blog post with you because you helped me to find peace with my nose! I went to the So Long Insecurity seminar this past summer and you had talked about your insecurities and we both have a similar one with our nose! Anyone reading this probably thinks its funny that I’m writing this but I’m thankful you shared your heart and it has helped me alot! If you come across this check out my lastest post! Blessings:) Nicole Renee
http://youarerare.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-found-peace-with-my-nose.html
I am so thankful for you & pray often for you, your family, and ministry. I know every woman following you, who has been blessed to do one of your studies, or sit under your teaching would agree you are a true instrument of God. God has used you many times to drive a revelation home within my heart – even now, reading your post – He spoke to me regarding who He is and the verse in Psalms, that you chose to close with, was exactly what I needed – it made me cry that He speaks so dearly to us just when we need it. Thank YOU, Beth – and your family for sharing you all these years.
May the Lord continue to bless you & may you seek Him with all diligence & delight.
Your sister,
Kim Anderson
For all the ways that you have ministered to me and so many others … may God continue to bless you SOOO good!!
Love, your Littleton fans
Thanks sister Beth…I just savored every inspired word and was blessed this dreary Monday after thanksgiving in the midwest…I am so encouraged by your gift of words and though we have very little in earthly common we have such a love for Jesus and His Word and all that that brings with it we have MUCH in common…God bless you Beth Moore, may He smile on you and be gracious to you, may He show you His favor and give you His peace…
What a awesome post. I am so amazed sometimes at the simularities between us Southern raised gals. Like Grannies eating cornbread and milk, family members named Gay, the wonderful uses of bacon grease and as always the sayings that are passed down from generation to generation. Thanksgiving is over but I am so very thankful for Siestaville and our Siesta Mama!! Hope you had a good one!!
Thank you for letting me be a part of your life…and seeing in to your world and heart! Thank you for writing Bible studies and helping me to learn, dig and grow. Wouldn’t it be fun to all sit around your table and laugh our heads off……..I know we would!
love you and Siestaville very much!!
Jill
Beth!
This has been a year…and not a good one for my family! Thank you for listing the many things you are grateful for! It has made me look into my life to see what I am truly grateful for and I appreciate that!
Here’s to loving Him right where we are…in the middle of a mess I am choosing to love Him and believe in Him!
I love you!
Donna (the mom of twin boys)
I am so thankful that God has given me a spiritual big sister like you to continue to show me in an honest and straightforward, and dare I say humorous, way the truth about this life and how we as princesses of Christ fit (or really don’t fit) into it. Thank you so much for creating, “stuff,” that continues to make me feel, “normal,” if there even is such a thing, in my everyday struggles as a woman and a daughter of Christ. Happy Thanksgiving!
PS-I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE So Long Insecurities-I’m in the middle of it right now and am being so impacted by it! Thank you for writing it!
Just thinking about how sweet those kids are and remembering when my twin boys were that little too.
They are so precious.
When my boys were just a few weeks old my husband and I went to the PX in Germany. I had one and my husband had the other boy. I came around the corner with my buggy and this German man said, “Oh, how cute.”
Then, my husband came around with my other boys and the German man, said with excitment, “Oh, God bless, God Bless!”
My husband was in tears the first time we took them to church and we were truly Blessed!
I just had to share this from what I read this morning in my 5 minute New Teastament reading. New Living Translation
1Peter 5:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, FOR HE CARES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU. (emphasis mine) He cares without ending for little old me and you siestaville, what an amazing gift! What comfort and joy those God ispired words give to my soul, thank you Jesus, thank you God.
I am replying to myself, ‘inspired’ was what I was trying to type, oops!
Andrea Porter, PA
Beth, I wanted you to know that we gave thanks for your gifts and your willingness tonight. My little group of five just finished the last session of Esther and when it was over, no one wanted to leave. In fact they wanted to know what we were going to study next. There’s a … revival, I guess you’d call it…catching fire at the church where my husband serves (music) and I am so excited to be a part of it. Though I’m a “Beth Moore junkie” 🙂 – my friends call me that – I have had so much joy sharing your studies with these ladies who have never done an indepth study that wasn’t boring. All to the glory of God.
I read here often, but rarely comment. Thanks for being so real with us.
Julie (Richmond, VA)
PS. I’m savoring chiastic construction, peripity, and reversal of destiny. I’m savoring that I’m where I am for a reason, at all times. And I’m savoring that I’m only responsible for my obedience, not for what happens afterwards. Not the “how”.
Thank u so much for letting me share my heart earlier this holiday season. Since that dark night and I first thought if u , I went to the new testament and really evaluated the depth of my faith. Guess why? I came up short !! Since that dark night, meds for chronic illness and pain have been reduced and my dearest longest friend prayed your book ” praying God’s Word” over me and fasted. That very night while studying faith, I found in Mark about if u have faith to move a mountain it will move. Well today talking to my specialist I mentioned. My God was going to heal me. He is Hindu but I KZnOW that because of faith in my almighty God, my doctor will see the one true God heal me. Thank you moderator for praying for me and siestas I will no longer be a siesta stalker. I will post. I am honored to be apart of this ministry as well as go to and have Beth’s studies in my home. I am thankful for u all!! I have Bern Herr since the beginning and have memory versed and summer bible studied. What a blessing this ministry is!!
Fro
Thanks Beth for sharing the lives of your family and inviting us into your lovely home! That is an awesome table!! Thanks also for sharing your “thankful fors” with a host of sisters around the nation.
I would like to share this little video w/the SS
world:http://vimeo.com/16404771 (Sorry, you may have to copy it into your browser)I assure you’ll be blessed by this little girl’s rendition of “Jonah’s story”.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. And, a very happy season of Advent to you also. Being thankful for the loved ones is one of the sweetest gifts.
What a sweet list Beth! I just wanted to say that you are surely in my list of blessings that I give thanks for. Your ministry, your bible studies (they have changed my life) – and your inspiring and contagious love for God and His Word. You have influenced me for His glory more than you could know. Love to you 🙂
Grew up eating warm cornbread in sweet milk…..yummy! Makes my tummy hungry just thinking about it. Can’t get good cornmeal mix in Sacramento so I’ve learned to make it from scratch. I heat my cast iron skillet smoking hot so the crust gets nice and crunchy before I put it in the oven.
My man can eat his weight in cornbread (loves it with butter and local honey) and thankfully appreciates that REAL cornbread does not need sugar and shouldn’t taste like cake. 😉
Hugs,
Gwen
love the fruit table. where can I find one? Rebecca
I had to make the photo of you and Travis on your brisk walk larger, from my view, it sure looked like you were holding a pizza box in your left hand and your Starbucks in your right, I thought…..I KNEW I loved this woman!!!…(think it was a lake or something in the far background) next time i will put my glasses on 🙂