Turkey Soup for the Soul: A Post-Thanksgiving Reflection

It’s the day after Thanksgiving 2024 as I write this. After a busy day of cleaning, cooking and hosting, I gathered my journal, computer, and a couple of books to sit down and have some well-earned quiet. No particular plan lay ahead, just a little time to reflect. A day off in a freshly tidied home with a fridge full of leftovers lends itself to thinking and even relaxing a bit.

In the midst of my quiet post-Thanksgiving break, a funny thing happened. Quite unexpectedly, the promise of turkey soup inspired some reflections on life.

This morning, my husband finished taking meat off the turkey carcass so I could transform it into its next phase—soup stock. The plan is to make stock, cool it overnight on our enclosed porch, skim the fat in the morning, and then make a gargantuan pot of turkey noodle soup to eat and share with family and friends.

Nothing exciting in the prep—just water, a turkey carcass, garlic, onion, celery, and carrots. As the stock began simmering and the scent made its way to me in the living room, a thought flashed into my mind. Making stock is a process. It can’t be rushed. Lots of things need to happen before a person can make it. If you cut corners or don’t include all the components, it won’t yield a delicious final product.

Somewhere, a wee turkey emerged from its shell and grew into the bird that would become our Thanksgiving meal. I had to shop for, thaw, prepare, and cook the turkey. Then we readied it for the stockpot to be joined by vegetables. At some point earlier this year, those vegetables were only tiny seeds pressed into the soil.

In the rhythm of birth and death, sowing and reaping, these items eventually found their way into my stockpot to make something new.

Once assembled, the process of extracting and melding flavors has to take place for many hours. The longer the simmer, the richer the flavor. There is absolutely no shortcut for this. Time is the main ingredient.

While waxing philosophical about turkey soup may seem silly, it’s actually a glimpse into life. An assemblage of components must meet, mingle, and simmer to yield who we are. This process is, of course, much longer than an afternoon on a gas burner.

Along the way, ingredients like faith, failure, success, gain, loss, and wisdom come in splashes, dashes, or even heavy handfuls.

There is absolutely no shortcut for this.
Time is the main ingredient.

I know this reminds me of the journey I’ve been on to make it to the 51- year-old version of myself. And over time, more things will be added to my experiences, both good and bad. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus is not quick, nor is it always easy.

Here are a few scriptures that spring to mind when thinking about the time and ingredients needed to develop us in the faith.

“We know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him and who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NCB)

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)

It’s funny how often mundane things like making soup cause me to see God more clearly. Working in the garden, taking a walk, and watching the change of seasons have all imparted deep spiritual truths to me at just the right time.

May your broth and life in Christ be rich, nourishing, and full of flavor. Amen.

With Love and Gratitude,

6 thoughts on “Turkey Soup for the Soul: A Post-Thanksgiving Reflection

  1. Tracy,
    I loved your Thanksgiving blog! It
    reminds me of the day after
    Thanksgiving, years ago, when you
    took our family in for that delicious
    turkey soup. Our daughter’s
    kitchen caught on fire and we vacated
    the home. You invited us into yours.
    It was the atmosphere of holiness that
    struck me the most about being in your
    home with you and your family. It is
    still felt, in my soul, years after the
    deliciousness of the soup nourished
    me.

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