Where There’s Smoke, There’s Turkey

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Turkey

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;go into his courts with praise.Give thanks to him and praise his name.For the LORD is good.His unfailing love continues forever.

Psalm 100:4-5

A few years ago Mark Lowry sent a smoked turkey to me for Thanksgiving. It was, according to his enthusiastic endorsement, some of the best turkey in the world.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to test that claim because I didn’t take time to read the directions. Not knowing the word smoked meant “fully cooked,” I assumed I should roast the bird the same way I do all my turkeys: in a 350-degree oven until tender, or until the firemen arrive, whichever comes first.

For the entire time that turkey was roasting, everything seemed to be going fine. There were not any dark clouds billowing out of the oven. There was no odor of burning meat. My smoke alarm did not even go off.

When I finally took that poor bird out of the oven—some fourteen hours later—and pulled back the aluminum foil, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The poor thing looked as if it had been struck by lightning! Twice! It was as black as a pair of army boots and about as tender. Its poor legs were pointing in opposite directions, and the meat on each drumstick had shrunk, leaving four inches of bare bone protruding in the air. Had the SPCA seen it, I would still be paying off the fine!

Hang in there, Martha.

On this special day of thanks to God for the ways he graces us with unfathomable love, recall the many joys, hopes, and dreams he made possible through the sacrifice of his precious Son. And whether your turkey is blessed or burned, be grateful.

“Give thanks to him and praise his name. . . . His unfailing love continues forever!”

—Martha Bolton

We praise you, God, for your Son and for the life his death provides for us. We bow in gratitude for all you do for us. Amen.