Wellness blog
by Krista Young
When my children were young, my mom started saving the wishbone from the Thanksgiving turkey. She would let it dry on the kitchen windowsill for a few days, and when the kids came back to her house, it became a small but meaningful ceremony. She would explain the ritual, and two little hands would grasp either side of the delicate turkey bone. On the count of three, they’d pull. Whoever ended up with the larger center piece “won” and could make a wish.
I have no idea where this tradition came from, and honestly, it has always seemed a little odd to me. It was fun, of course, but we never put much weight on the wishes themselves.
A wish is often a longing for something that feels out of reach. We make wishes on falling stars or when we blow out birthday candles… but a wish, in many ways, is like an empty promise.
As children of God, however, we have hope. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, hope means “to expect with confidence.” Our confidence comes from knowing who we are placing our hope in. We trust that God knows our needs and desires the very best for us. We trust His promises, and we know He is faithful. Hope is far more than a wish—because of the One in whom our hope is anchored.
Many families take time during Thanksgiving to share what they’re thankful for. This year, I suggest we word it a little differently: instead of simply saying what we’re thankful for, try saying, “I thank God for…” And perhaps add one more line: “I thank God for… and I am hopeful for…”
You can still have fun with the wishbone if you choose, but let it be an opportunity to point to the source of our true hope and gratitude—a simple way to witness to the One we trust with all our expectations.
Krista Young is a DCE serving the LCMS Mission Advancement as a Mission Advocate. In this role, she shares the many ways God’s faithful people pray and support the mission of spreading the Gospel to family, neighbors, and to the ends of the earth. She and her husband have two young adult children and reside in the mountains of Western NC.