Have you ever been to a Thanksgiving dinner where each guest is supposed to say something they’re thankful for? Don’t you just hate that?

Honestly, it wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t so darn lame. How many times can you hear “I’m thankful for my family,” or “I’m thankful for good friends,” without wanting to stab yourself with the olive pick?

But then I thought, hey, what if we spiced things up just a little? What if we were thankful for everything? After all, one thing I hear a lot (at least in church) is that we should be thankful in all circumstances.

Which can be a real challenge. 

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I mean, what if you’re newly married and moving to a different state and the vehicle you bought two weeks ago breaks down and you wind up hitchhiking back to the nearest town where you find out the engine is completely blown and you were the victim of an unscrupulous car dealer? (True story.)

But looked at in another light, that’s the kind of situation that, in time and with the gift of perspective (a lot of time and a lot of perspective), gives us an opportunity for growth and one hell of a good story.

There’s a story Husband loves to tell this time of year, a childhood memory of his, that you might call his Worst Thanksgiving Ever.

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Unable to visit family, they wound up going to a  neighbor’s home where they were given flimsy paper plates and plastic utensils, they sat outside on cheap lawn chairs, there were no side dishes (not that Husband likes side dishes, the point is there weren’t any), and when the neighbors realized they forgot dessert, one of the kids ran inside for a box of Hostess Ding Dongs and passed them around.

So here’s the thing: it may have been a rotten dinner, but it provided Husband with a great story that he loves to tell and everyone enjoys hearing.

And that’s the point I want to leave with you today. Let us be thankful for all things: rotten dinners, frustrating events, ridiculous people and stupid politicians, because they provide us with Story.  And think how boring our lives would be without Story.

So if during your Thanksgiving dinner you are asked what you are thankful for, think about the role Story plays in your life. And then tell a great one.

Speaking of dinner, bet you’ll have a few leftovers and wouldn’t mind a recipe to go with them. Now, I for one am not a turkey lover, but this soup is a good one and it’s ridiculously easy to make. I was at a friend’s house when she made it and I had my doubts as I watched her, but was surprised how well it turned out. She doesn’t even consider herself a cook, so that should tell you how easy it is.

Bonus Recipe!

The second time I made these cookies, I was measuring the salt over the bowl and … um … that was a mistake. I scooped out as much salt as I could and made the cookies anyway. Of course, I thought they tasted salty, but everyone else raved about them and requested the recipe. Which makes it tricky, you know? So I solved the problem by sprinkling the cookies with salt, right before baking. Weird, but true. (Another Story!)