Wassail

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 321: Today, I am grateful for wassail.

There are some things that simply shout "The holidays are here!" around our family. One of them is a pot of wassail on the stove with the aromatic spices filling the air. 

Our Mama's Bess family is quite large and we spend a fair amount of time getting ready. The preparation time with the family is where some of our favorite memories have been made. One of the things we make the night before Thanksgiving is wassail. We reheat it the next day and enjoy some more with family and friends.  My Aunt Judy really likes her wassail. 

Wassail is made from apple juice, cranberry juice, some recipes add orange juice, too. Then the mulling spices of of cinnamon, allspice and cloves make it festive. The fragrance fills the kitchen and combines with the aroma of baked goods and turkey. I look forward to it every year. 

I was reminded of the time Nehemiah commanded a time of feasting for the people of Israel. Not because they deserved it, but because God is good and provided all of their needs. In fact, the children of Israel had been pretty self-involved and neglected the Law of Moses. Ezra and Nehemiah wanted them to turn their lives and their hearts around. He commanded them to feast and drink because the joy of the Lord was to be their strength. 

"And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” " -Nehemiah 8:10

They don't think they had wassail, but they had other sweet drinks used in celebration. Those feast worthy beverages hit the spot. 

Today, I am grateful for wassail.