Thanksgiving Archives - Kristin Saatzer

Thanks-living

November 20, 2018 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

“The one who offers thanksgiving as His sacrifice glorifies me.”

Psalm 50:23b ESV

November has not been kind to California. We lament as stories of suffering and death and horror continue to assault us. Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy!

As we roll into Thanksgiving we see “Give Thanks” signs in stores and homes. We scroll through Facebook and read posts of gratefulness. However, for some, coming up with a blessing is like finding a black cat on a moonless night. Seemingly impossible. Too much pain in the heart to search for good. Where does one begin after losing a child in a shooting or losing a home or an entire town to a fire?

A friend of mine who lost her child, once shared with me that she found it took too much effort in her grief-crippled state to come up with something she could be thankful for. She said it was a sacrifice to try to do so.Continue Reading

I Wish I Had Your Life

February 20, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

The Practice of Gratitude: Part 1

We purchased a house needing tons of work during my fourth pregnancy. As moving day approached, the doctor placed me on partial bed rest. It was a stressful time: moving preparations, finishing our home school year, caring for my boys and the little one inside me. Life found me tired, overwhelmed, and huge. Not the epitome of a grateful human.

Cheating on the doctor’s orders one morning, the boys and I snuck to Trader Joe’s. My blood pressure began to boil as we shopped. My brood behaved badly. Instead of helping me as planned, they argued. Then, when not arguing, two of them made gun and burp sounds while the one in the cart barked like a dog at full decibel.

I walked away from our cart o’ fun to a small corner of the small store. As a mental breakdown took place in my head, I wondered: Why did I ever have kids? Why were my kids the naughtiest children ever? Was I CRAZY in having another one? Why hadn’t God just given me one little girl as my plan had been? How was I going to handle an eternity of listening to burp and gun sounds?

Once I semi-got a grip, I turned around and there standing next to my cart talking to the boys was my friend. My infertile friend.

Poor thing, I unloaded on her. As I spoke, her eyes clouded, while she listened sweetly. She then replied, “Kris, I know you are hormonal and tired. The boys are challenging. But think about this: I wish I had your life. I just want one child and you have four.”

So, I got down on my swollen knees and begged her to trade lives with me!Continue Reading

10 “Safe” Topics For The Thanksgiving Table

November 22, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer Leave a Comment

So, there was an election recently. You might have heard about it.

And here we are careening to the holidays, almost to the Thanksgiving table. For some of us, this presents a challenge: Our expectation is to count our blessings over a delicious meal with friends and family. Instead, Uncle Harold and Cousin Sally would rather spew political opinions and diatribes.

This might be the year for ground rules. A challenge to pull off as a guest, but as a host or hostess- your table, your rules?

The following are “safe” topic ideas:

Kids and Seniors- If there are kids around the table (or kid table) put the spotlight on them. Ask about their interests and school. Have them share a song or poem. Have the seniors among you share stories of how they celebrated the holidays as children.
Veteran’s- I noticed on Facebook that my friends from opposing political parties all seem to be fans. Print off a story of a heroic veteran or two.
Bucket Lists- Have your table guests share theirs.
Jokes- Funny NON-political, cheesy and clean.
Inspirational Stories- It keeps the perspective positive. Check out: chickensoup.com
Sports- This is an exciting time of year for the NFL, college football, NBA and college basketball.
Beautiful places visited- Share travel stories.
Favorite books read from this past year- My personal preference! Provide paper and pens.
Goals for the New Year- New fitness or workout trends, financial or relational goals.
GRATEFULNESS- But of course! Count your many, many blessings.

Healthy boundaries and rules of engagement can make for a rich holiday celebration. Not perfect but rich and semi-peaceful.

May your table and heart be replete with Thankfulness.

Now go start cooking!

Before’s and Afters

April 6, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

Anakainosiß (greek): A renewal, renovation,

complete change for the better

Don’t ya love before’s and afters? How about those TV shows where they take a house (oh what a miracle could be done with mine!) or a person’s body (no comment) and rapidly renovate them? It’s amazing and delightful to see the results. Dramatic.

With amazement and delight, I’ve seen God radically. rapidly change a few people I’ve known. You too have seen this: the kind of change where you know it’s an “only God!” thing. A friend stopped using meth after giving His life to Jesus, and never used again. Another acquaintance returned to her husband and children after years of adultery, never looking back. Dramatic.

Do you have a radical, rapid before and after story?

I don’t. Many of us don’t. Instead, our soul-renovations happen slowly, not dramatically, like a gradual drip filling a tub.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The Apostle Paul tells us that anyone in Christ is a new creation. Anyone. Even if it doesn’t look like a dramatic one, a renovation has indeed occurred, because of the cross.

Because of the cross, we are reborn. Set right. Washed clean yet outwardly looking the same. The before and after taking place in our hearts as God regenerates us and presents us our ticket to eternity.

Because of the cross, God sees us as new. He views us as perfectly renovated. As we respond to the gift of grace, we change (however slowly) in heart, thought, actions and perspective.

Often times, the familiar tune of discouragement plays as I look at the restoration still needing to take place in me. I grow weary as I measure the snail’s pace of progress. Then I pause, recalling that change has occurred over these years of walking with God. My after is progressing, however imperfectly. I think of the cross, how God views me: perfectly renovated.

Celebrate your own Before’s and Afters this spring. As you appreciate God’s handiwork in creation, remember my friend, you too are His handiwork being made new.

And honestly, the icing on my renovation cake would be having a Home TV program show up here at Saatzerville to work a miracle (she thinks as she glances at the water spotted ceiling and peeling paint…).