My husband charged the refrigerator the day after Thanksgiving, pushed the milk jug and apple juice aside, and scoured for the leftover turkey, ham, and trimmings. A raid for Thanksgiving dinner’s leftovers was in progress. I volunteered a few coordinates, and he left no prisoners behind.

We enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family and look forward to the odds and ends stuffed in aluminum foil, Tupperware, and other containers.

Revisited mac-and-cheese, collard greens, and other leftovers from the holiday and any other day are a free, short-order meal. Some would say the leftovers taste better than the first-served portions. The flavor of the herbs, pepper, cinnamon, paprika, basil, and other spices is more infused and zingier. Believe it or not, two-day-old cornbread dressing is worth setting the dinner table again!

We heat, serve, and bless the second and third portions of the food.

Like the leftovers from a large meal, we don’t want our gratefulness to grow stale. We have more than enough reasons to thank God continually for his abundant provisions. Each day, the seasoning of our gratitude and thankfulness is a good taste in our mouth that causes our lips to utter praise. To make light of or dismiss the source of all blessings is not a good thing.

I have a lifetime of new and leftover praises. Can anyone really count or name their blessings one by one? It is impossible.

The psalmist says in Psalm 34:1 KJV, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” 

We can do the same as the psalmist to express our gratitude as we eat daily and feast on the portions of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Thanksgiving is a holiday, a day of festivity, leisure, and no official work. But giving thanks to God is God’s will for all that has breath, no matter the day. Thanksgiving Day is gone, but giving thanks is never-ending.

“In everything, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Another biblical translation states, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

Be well.