Category: holidays and observances

Thoughts for Thanksgiving

Remembering Erma Bombeck, a cherished humorist, whose wry humor included Thanksgiving. Despite suffering from a hereditary kidney disorder, she became a best-selling author before her death in 1996. The post also highlights John F. Kennedy’s perspective on gratitude and notes developments regarding his family’s political legacy.

updated November 24,2025

 

“What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?”

Erma Bombeck

Erma Bombeck-humorist, writer

Beloved for her wry yet warm look at family life, Erma Bombeck was America’s favorite humorist at the time of her death in 1996. Ten of her 13 books, including Forever, Erma, appeared on the New York Times best-seller list. (affiliate link)

She suffered from a hereditary disorder called adult polycystic kidney disease, and spent years on a waiting list for a transplant.  On April 3, 1996, she received a kidney transplant but passed away from complications later that month.

W. T. Purkiser (1910-92) was a prolific writer, respected scholar, and well-loved preacher within the Church of the Nazarene who also had a significant voice in the larger Christian community.

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy. 

Elected in 1961, John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. He was the youngest man elected President. On November 22, 1963,  a few days before Thanksgiving, he was assassinated by a bullet wound to his head.

His younger brother Robert F. Kennedy served as Attorney General for his brother. He later ran for President and was shot and killed while campaigning.

In 2024, his nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., ran for President but later withdrew from the race. President Donald Trump nominated him as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and he was confirmed by the Senate.

In November of 2025, President Kennedy’s granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg announced that she has acute myeloid leukemia, a diagnosis she described as terminal.

“Schlossberg thanked her husband and her family for their support and for countless days spent at her bedside.” (NBCNEWS.COM)

 

Sharing the HEART of gratitude

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Why we need Palm Sunday

The first Palm day was a prelude to unexpected pain and suffering. Most of us did not anticipate the pain and suffering the viral pandemic would bring. But the second Palm day was a celebration

Palm Sunday is one of several “holidays”, or more correctly holy days that Christians “celebrate”, or observe, in the weeks before Easter called Lent. Palm Sunday comes from an event recorded in the Bible books of Mark, Luke, and John.

The prophet Zechariah had said 

“Announce to the people
of Jerusalem:
‘Your king is coming to you!
He is humble
and rides on a donkey.
He comes on the colt
of a donkey.’ ”

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The disciples left and did what Jesus had told them to do. They brought the donkey and its colt and laid some clothes on their backs. Then Jesus got on.

The next day a large crowd was in Jerusalem for Passover. When they heard that Jesus was coming for the festival,  they took palm branches and went out to greet him. They shouted,

Hooray for the Son of David!
God bless the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hooray for God
in heaven above!”


(Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.28-38; John 12.12-19)

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)

© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Lent starts with the well known Fat Tuesday-Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday.

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, related in the story above.

At my church on Palm Sunday, the preschool age children march into the auditorium waving palm branches and sing a song for us. The parents and grandparents sit up front, proudly taking pictures and video. Then there is a carnival and of course hunting for Easter eggs.

It’s a day to celebrate before we observe the solemn days of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

two crossed palm branches

Another Palm day in the Bible

It may not be on a Sunday, but I recently discovered another time when palm branches are used to honor Jesus. But unlike the first Palm Sunday, it celebrates a much happier occasion. It’s in the book of Revelation written by the Apostle John who was in exile on a deserted island.

“After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted.

They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, as they shouted,

Our God, who sits upon the throne,

has the power to save his people,

    and so does the Lamb.

Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom,

    thanks, honor, power and strength belong to our God

    forever and ever! Amen!”

Revelation 7:9-12, CEV

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)

© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

sharing faith, hope, and love

FAITH LOVE HOPE- words created with letter tiles
These three remain, faith, hope and love, and greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

The first Palm day was a prelude to unexpected pain and suffering. Most of us did not anticipate the pain and suffering the COVID-19 pandemic would cause.

But the Bible describes the second Palm day as a celebration because their pain and suffering was over. And I believe some day we will look back on these difficult days and celebrate health and wholeness again.

Dr. Aletha
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