The Thanksgiving days of my childhood are precious memories.

Looking back now, though, I laugh! All of us kids anticipated dinner time. As we gathered around the holiday table, our eyes locked upon the turkey. Not the entire turkey, but, specifically, the wings.

We all loved turkey wings. So we waited warily, knowing that one bird had only two wings to offer.

The dilemma was solved when my wise mother went against the traditional roast in favor of family sanity. She brought out a platter of wings rather than a turkey whose other parts no one coveted. This allowed us to focus on our many reasons to give thanks. We were safe and loved. And we each had a wing!

However, I never recall giving thanks for the school bullies.

Prayers when facing trouble are common, but when I am in a difficult situation, I must admit that thankfulness is not my first thought. No. When faced with threats, the warmth and security of thanksgiving moments do not dominate.

Daniel challenges me to meet problems with the same composure as I would greet a plate of turkey wings. Whether in the midst of calm or calamity, God is with me.

Like my loving family that surrounded me then, the ever-loving, all-powerful God with His countless unseen angels surrounds me now.