November: Faith, Family, and Football
Growing up one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions was packing up the car and heading to a little town called Stuttgart, Arkansas. It’s perfectly understandable if one has never been to, heard of, or had a desire to go there. But here’s a neat factoid for you; Stuttgart is considered to be the “rice and duck capital of the world.” Now, I don’t know if that’s self-proclaimed or how a town even goes about obtaining such a title. Although, you now have a new fact for your trivia toolbox, you’re welcome. Go and ‘wow’ someone with your knowledge of rice and ducks.
It’s probably trite but what made those Thanksgivings so special was faith, family, and football. Family from all over the country would gather in this small town the day before Thanksgiving. We would play the family favorite card game, baseball; followed by a gathering around the television to watch the latest holiday movie. We would say our prayers (often I was fast asleep before the final “amen.”) But it would not be long before I was woken up by the cacophonous laughter of my aunt and uncle; coupled with the smell of freshly baked pumpkin pie, swirling around the kitchen attempting to escape via any opening it should come upon. It was Thanksgiving Day. After the meal, we would once again gather around the television to watch the Thanksgiving Day football games. As the final seconds ticked off the clock of the final game, the day announced its end. We will be going home tomorrow.
Thanksgiving Day only comes around once a year but that doesn’t mean we cannot build a habitual life of thankfulness, even tradition. One of the greatest stories of familial tradition is found in the book of Jeremiah and comes to us by way of a group of folks known as the Rechabites. The Rechabites’ story is juxtaposed next to Israel’s failing loyalty to God. So God holds the Rechabites up as an example of what true, holy listening looks like.
Jeremiah 35:2-10
“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.” So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. I brought them to the house of the Lord into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’ We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us.”
Generational loyalty isn’t always commonplace. At this time in Israel’s history, it appeared to be an anomaly. However, we are approaching a time of the year where we consider the importance of family, blood related or otherwise. Moments from our childhood serve as snapshots of the person we will become. Our faith can frequently operate in the same manner. The foundational habits we build; by example, study, or any number of mechanisms will serve us well as we continue to mature in our faith. No matter where we are with our faith. No matter the size of our family. We can always uphold, expand on, or cultivate new traditions. For now, let’s approach the heavenly throne this season, with thanksgiving on our lips. (Psalm 100:4)
Peace to you,
Rev. Taylor Kibler
