Can lemons teach us something about life?

When life gives you lemons, make … lemon meringue pie. What? Kind of a strange flavor for a Thanksgiving table. More along the lines of a Fourth of July picnic or a summer tea party, wouldn’t you say?

So, how does lemon pie relate to Thanksgiving?

Lemons have significance for me this year. Learning how to cope with that sour, seeded juice has been my most important lesson. If I strain out the seeds and add lots of sugar, water, and ice, I create a lovely, refreshing drink full of healthy Vitamin C. And I enjoy Every. Last. Drop.

When life throws us a sour curve ball, how should we handle it?

Prayer. Take everything to the Father, and He will comfort us. Have a good cry in His arms, and you’ll feel better.

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me ~ Psalm 119:50

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’ ~ Matthew 5:4, NASB.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a, NASB.

Praise. He is worthy of our worship and our praise songs that honor Him. Sing to the Lord–it will renew your spirit.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms ~ Psalm 95:2, NASB.

I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving ~ Psalm 69:30, NASB.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name ~ Psalm 100:4, NASB.

Thanksgiving. Of all days of the year, we have been taught from childhood to celebrate this day and give thanks to God. But let’s thank Him from our hearts, from the depths of our being. He alone is our all in all. Let’s lavishly thank Him for every blessing and be truly thankful.

‘He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God’ ~ Psalm 50:23, NASB.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me ~ Psalm 30:1, NASB.

Wait. What do we do about our hurts? How can we be thankful for them?

When we run to the Father, he heals our hurts. He wipes away all disappointments and soul wounds and lovingly replaces them with hope and joy. In time, He turns life’s sour lemons into sweet lemonade.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight ~ Psalm 3:5-6, NASB.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones ~ Proverbs 16:24, NASB.

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands ~ Psalm 92:4, NASB.

Have you suffered hurts and disappointments this year?

Here’s the remedy: overcome them with God’s forgiveness and grace. Leave them at the foot of the Cross. Then thank the Lord for the sugar and the lemons. There’s nothing better than heaven’s lemonade.

And while we’re expressing thanks this Thanksgiving … you’re invited to join me for a piece of lemon meringue pie.