As November dawns we’re beginning some of what I believe are the “most wonderful times of the year.” Thanksgiving is November 26 and Christmas is on a Friday this year. For working folks, there could be a long weekend holiday with family and friends.
Oh, we have so much to be thankful for and for which to look forward.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because as we gather at a family or friend’s homes for the best meal of the year, there are really no expectations of this gift or that, but it’s truly a time reflect on blessings.
As a child our family gathered for Thanksgiving at our Uncle Don’s home — a tradition for many years — where each family brought favorite dishes to share. No one baked a Thanksgiving turkey like our Aunt Judy.
As we all grew older and moved away from home, we returned to our parents’ home where we celebrated Thanksgiving with them, our brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. I simply loved the day and I still do.
Although my immediate family isn’t always together on Thanksgiving Day, we still talk about those days of having a table spread with turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans and corn when we were all still at home.
As we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings on this Thanksgiving Day 2026, could it be we might show more gratitude than ever for family, friends and health. We are beyond blessed to live where we live, to have family and friends that truly love us as we celebrate together. Even if we are not together physically, we can certainly be thankful.
You know, it’s true, nothing compares to the blessings of life.
On Thanksgiving evening, Nov. 26, the town of Forest City will turn on its more than a million Christmas lights as thousands gather in the downtown square for music, laughter and other sights of the season. It is the beginning of the Christmas season to be followed by Christmas parades in Ellenboro, Forest City, Spindale and Rutherfordton and plenty of other Christmas events in between.
Christmas traditions for me include gathering with sisters, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews and their children often at my house or at a niece’s home.
My house is small, but that makes it even more special as we pile into the same living room where I grew up and celebrated Christmas. I can still see the small cedar tree decorated with strands of red, blue, orange, green and white lights shining ever so bright in our living room. Our family had spent an afternoon searching for the tree in the pasture near our house. We never bought a live Christmas tree.
On Christmas Day, we traveled to our grandparents’ house for Christmas dinner where we shared a meal and listened as Grandpa read from Luke 2 — the Greatest Story Ever Told. Later we exchanged gifts.
‘Tis the season and I for one can hardly wait.
Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge will also take on renewed brightness, two years after the hurricane, with white lights, blue and green ones at homes, businesses and at The Flowering Bridge.
A favorite tradition as a child was getting into the family car to “go see the Christmas lights.” We only did that one night during the season — which made it so special. We spent a long time in the car just “looking” at the visible signs of Christmas.
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year as we meet with friends, loved ones, enjoy the colors of the season, attend church candlelight services celebrating the birth of our Savior.
We will sing and listen to our favorite songs and watch Christmas movies.
Maybe as we prepare for Christmas 2026, we’ll pass by that pasture where our cedar tree grew that would later be the most beautiful Christmas tree ever and give thanks for memories.
Ring those bells, give big and be a bright light shining in your home and community this Christmas season. Shine for Jesus.
And who knows? Maybe there’ll be a white Christmas.
Celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas can be the best ever in 2026 — as we put the interests of others above our own — and remember all our blessings from God.
Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful Christmas.
Jean Gordon is an award-winning journalist having spent nearly 50 years at two Rutherford County newspapers.
