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Religion Thanksgiving Thorns - Story

In summary, the former co-worker tells Sandra that she is thankful for her troubles this year, as they have helped her grow. Sandra is not happy about the gift and thinks that it is a joke. Phil and Jenny explain that it is not a joke and that it is a way to remember the strength that they have found in their troubles.
janetupnorth
Gold Member
14,905
A former co-worker that I used to do a dept. Bible Study with just e-mailed me the following, I thought I'd share:




Thanksgiving Thorns



What arrangement will you have on your Thanksgiving table?
Thorns..... Thank You, Lord


Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the
florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been
as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second
pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy.

This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their
infant son. She grieved over their loss. Troubles had multiplied. Her
husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location.
Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited
holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's
grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with
others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra
with a shudder.


"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver
whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag
that saved her life, but took her child's?"

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Sandra was startled by the approach
of the shop clerk. "I. . ...I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra. "For
Thanksgiving? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued.

"Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this
Thanksgiving?"
"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything
that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and
was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for
you."
Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer,
"Hi, Barbara, let me get your order." She excused herself and walked
back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement
of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses-
except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched, was this
a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for
laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an
appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the
special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right
here, all over again," she said, as she gently tapped her chest.

Sandra stammered, "Ah, that lady just left with, uh. . .She left with
No flowers!" "That's right, said the clerk."I cut off the flowers. That's
the 'Special. ' I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.

Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do
today,"explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful
for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was
failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the
first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children,
no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.
"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly.
"I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I never
questioned Him why those good things happened to me, but when the bad
stuff hit, I cried out, "Why? Why me?!" It took time
for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have
always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the
beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us
when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had
tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a
baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man. "My wife sent
me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement.....twelve thorny,
long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped
arrangement from the refrigerator.
"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind
telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"

"Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced," Phil replied. "After
forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance,
we trudged through problem after problem. The Lord rescued our marriage.
Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of
what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me.
I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one
for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."
As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the
Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said
to the clerk. "It's all too. . .fresh ." "Well," the clerk replied
carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses
more precious. We treasure God' s providential care more during trouble than
at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore
so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra' s cheeks. For the first time since the
accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment. "I'll take those twelve
long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a
minute."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart.
The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and
handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement,
but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have
Thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns.
Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns.
Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain.
Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns. God Bless all of
you. Be thankful for all that the Lord does for you.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." - Deuteronomy 6:5
 
Brought tears to my eyes. Thanks, Janet.
 
WOW....thank you very much for posting this, Janet.
 
Janet, thanks so much, having lost my mother earlier this year, and now planning Thanksgiving and Christmas without her for the first time, this story really hit home, thanks so much for posting and God Bless.
 
Wow!!!! THAT WAS AWESOME...I NEED A DOZEN OF THORNS...NOT BEEN A GREAT YEAR A LOSS OF A GRANDMA THAT RAISED ME SINCE I WAS 4, AND SHE WAS THE MOM I KNEW WITH MINE DYING WHEN I WAS 10..AND NOW A WAR ABOUT INHERTANCE SINCE MY GRANDPARENTS MADE ME AN EQUAL TO THIER DAUGHTERS MY AUNTS...WHO WONT EVEN SPEAK TO ME BECAUSE OF IT...
 
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Dawnie2561 said:
Wow!!!! THAT WAS AWESOME...I NEED A DOZEN OF THORNS...NOT BEEN A GREAT YEAR A LOSS OF A GRANDMA THAT RAISED ME SINCE I WAS 4, AND SHE WAS THE MOM I KNEW WITH MINE DYING WHEN I WAS 10..AND NOW A WAR ABOUT INHERTANCE SINCE MY GRANDPARENTS MADE ME AN EQUAL TO THIER DAUGHTERS MY AUNTS...WHO WONT EVEN SPEAK TO ME BECAUSE OF IT...

I don't get why people are so petty about things like that?!?! So greedy...

If your mom died, it is only right that you get "her share". Which, in essence is your grandparent's stuff anyway...their kids sure didn't earn it!
 
Ah yes....inheritance brings out the worst in people. I remember my aunt raiding my grandmother's apartment while she was in the hospital dying from cancer.

Every life has its trauma and thorns....if you can learn from the thorns and appreciate the flowers when they are in bloom, you're doing pretty well!
 
Well Its at a point where I dont want anything....I have the dishes, pans, and things that will always be her and my grandpa...They can take the rest...Im not much into blood money, memories are what is the most important to me, which I prob have many more than they do and that is a big part of the problem...
 
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  • #9
Dawnie2561 said:
Well Its at a point where I dont want anything....I have the dishes, pans, and things that will always be her and my grandpa...They can take the rest...Im not much into blood money, memories are what is the most important to me, which I prob have many more than they do and that is a big part of the problem...

Well, from watching my mom and dad both go through that with siblings, if there is a will that says you get it, don't give in either. My aunt took everything from her two brothers. She has to live with herself but it also hurt them too. And, it won't fix the relationship with them, greed is greed. If you grandma wanted you to have something then have it. If it is an item not specified then yeah, maybe give a little but don't expect it to fix anything.
 
  • #10
Wonderful story!! Just sent it to others too!!!
 
  • #11
I sent it to all my contacts. It fits what we need this year.
 
  • #12
Thanks for sharing that beautiful story. Much to ponder, for sure.
 
  • #13
Janet, I attended a Christian theatre performance on Nov. 14th, and that very story was done by the IN YOUR FACE Players, at Impact Theatre. It is an awesome group
committed to witnessing their faith with courage and humor. They had a Christian musical group as an opening and closing. The short skit was after the refreshment's
and before the closing music. An Assembly of God community has taken on this
ministry, and they have a full house every month. We make our reservations from one
performance to the next.
 

What is the story of Thanksgiving Thorns?

The story of Thanksgiving Thorns is a heartwarming tale about a young girl named Lily who discovers the true meaning of Thanksgiving through a lesson about gratitude and compassion.

Is Thanksgiving Thorns suitable for all ages?

Yes, Thanksgiving Thorns is a family-friendly story that can be enjoyed by all ages. It is a great way to teach children about the importance of being thankful and helping others.

Can I purchase Thanksgiving Thorns through Pampered Chef?

Yes, Thanksgiving Thorns is available for purchase through Pampered Chef. You can order it through our website or contact your local Pampered Chef consultant.

Does Pampered Chef offer any additional resources or activities to go along with Thanksgiving Thorns?

Yes, we offer a free downloadable activity kit on our website that includes coloring pages, a word search, and a gratitude journal to further engage children with the story.

Can I host a Thanksgiving Thorns themed party with Pampered Chef?

Absolutely! We offer a Thanksgiving Thorns party kit that includes themed recipes, games, and decorations to help you host a fun and meaningful gathering with your family and friends.

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