The Unthankful Turkey

It is the middle of November and Thanksgiving is almost here,
For many turkeys it is a time to fear.

There is a determined hunter who is out with his rifle and net,
For a fowl, hiding in the bushes is the safest bet.

Now Tyler Turkey is a feisty feathered creature who likes to snicker and sneer,
He will purposely grumble and complain while the other turkeys cheer.

He even takes for granted the bountiful crop in the field,
Despite the plentiful supply of corn it will always freely yield.

While the other turkeys take a few moments to say “Grace”,
This ungrateful bird will be stuffing his face!

He is the most stubborn and egotistical creature you will ever meet!
So inconsiderate and rude enough to trick you into smelling his feet!

How could a fowl act so foul to his fellow kind?
His constant self-indulgence will frazzle your mind!

With the hunter on the move, the turkeys don’t have time for such drama.
It is time for every jake and jenny to stay close to their mama.

Unsurprisingly, Tyler is too busy looking at his reflection in the glossy stream,
While the other turkeys are working together as a team.

In the distance, the careful hunter begins to wade through the tall grass,
His rifle loaded waiting for an unsuspecting turkey to pass.

At his beautiful plume Tyler continues to glare,
To him, the water is nothing but a mirror.

Soon he begins to strut, which turns into a dance,
The hunter sees Tyler jiggying by and knows this is his chance.

He raises his rifle, and I’m sure you can guess what happens next,
I won’t tell you for fear your heart may be vexed.

Tyler is the biggest bird the hunter has ever snagged,
He happily lifts him by his feet, and then he is bagged.

It is enough to feed his family for more than a day,
Before he journeys home, the hunter takes a moment to pray.

“Thank you Lord for providing this amazing beast,
It will provide my family with a bountiful feast.
I don’t need much in life besides my God and kin.
Thank you dear Lord for the most beautiful turkey ever. Amen”

The hunter headed back to his family and his warm cozy home.
When it was safe, the other turkeys left the bushes and began to roam.

These birds of a feather gathered for their own prayer,
They were sad at Tyler’s death, but spoke to God with great cheer.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for the sacrifice before us today,
For others to live, sometimes there is a price someone else must pay.
It doesn’t always seem fair, but our hearts are filled with peace,
Remembrance of such sacrifice gives us an assurance that never has to cease.
Loss can be an unfortunate consequence of our sin,
But loving what we lost can make it alive within us. Amen”

The hunter and his family had the best Thanksgiving,
And the turkeys were thankful just to be able to go on living.

Our circumstances may not always be what we consider equal or fair,
But we are all blessed to have the same faithful God to share.

The End

Philippians 1:2-7 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

We serve a loving God who cares for us in ways we don’t fully understand.  Sometimes when it seems the least likely time to be thankful, it is actually the best time to praise the Lord and be thankful, because something good is on the horizon.

Questions

What are some things you can thank the Lord for today that you may have overlooked?

What is something in your life that seems negative, but God could be preparing to turn it into something amazing?