With Thanksgiving just two short weeks away, our minds naturally turn to gathering, setting the family table, and taking stock of our blessings. Yet, coming into this season, many of us are carrying a collective fatigue. The midterm election season is finally behind us, and regardless of how anyone voted, I think we can all agree that the sudden quiet on our televisions and radios is a welcome respite.

At the same time, national election results always bring fresh waves of anticipation, uncertainty, or stress for folks on all sides of the aisle. In a world that often feels turbulent and endlessly noisy, it can be hard to quiet our hearts long enough to cultivate genuine gratitude.

I was reminded of where true peace is found last Saturday during the Georgia Southern University homecoming game right here in Statesboro. While watching the game inside Paulson Stadium amidst the roaring crowd and that vibrant sea of Blue & White, I happened to look toward the student section – the famous paint line where students line up shoulderto- shoulder on game day.

Painted boldly across their chests in bright white letters against GSU blue was an unashamed, profound declaration: “CHRIST ALONE SAVES SINNERS.”

In a place often characterized by the loud, highenergy party atmosphere of a college campus, that unexpected message hit like a beam of clarity. It was a gentle, timely and powerful reminder of an eternal truth: in a world gone crazy, Jesus saves.

I later learned after posting a photo of the paint line on Facebook—where a friend proudly tagged the group – that this bold display was organized by the Georgia Southern University Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) student organization.

The photo quickly resonated, drawing hundreds of likes, shares and touching comments like, "I spoke about this in church this morning," "Blessings to all of these young people," "That's the future!," and "Thank you, Georgia Southern."

The community was so deeply encouraged and fullhearted— a testimony to the goodness of God and the quiet peace that binds us and passes all understanding.

For me, that moment hit especially close to home.

During my own college days at Georgia Southern, the BCM—then known as the Baptist Student Union (BSU)—played a foundational role in my life.

I served on praise teams, attended Tuesday night PrimeTimes, joined weekly Bible studies, and traveled around the world on mission teams sharing that very message: “Christ Alone Saves Sinners.” To return for homecoming years later and see the Lord still moving through students to further His Kingdom made me smile and cry – and overwhelmingly grateful for His providence and sovereignty. Our ultimate anchor doesn’t rest in political outcomes, economic shifts, or the fleeting noise of the culture around us. It rests in an unchanging grace that meets us right where we are. That realization changes how we approach Thanksgiving. True gratitude isn’t just polite appreciation for life’s temporary comforts—our health, our jobs, or a bountiful spread on the sideboard. It is an unshakable grounding in the truth that we are held by something— and Someone—far greater than ourselves.

As a food writer, I often think about how our dining tables act as physical anchors in our homes, much like that painted message that stood as an anchor in the stadium. The recipes we bring to the Thanksgiving table carry history, comfort, and heritage.

They remind us of who we are and where we come from. And in the South, there is no greater culinary anchor for the Thanksgiving table than a crisp, savory, baked-fromscratch cornbread dressing. This year, as you fold your napkins, set out your fine china or everyday plates, and pass the serving platters around, I hope you find a moment of real rest.

May we look past the noise of the world, give thanks for the hope we have in Jesus and a King who will one day soon return, and cherish His enduring grace that invites us all to the table.

Rebekah Faulk Lingenfelser is a private chef, speaker, culinary TV personality, and author. Featured in Forbes, on ABC and Food Network, she is a Georgia Southern alumna and an honors graduate of the Savannah Culinary Institute. Visit RebekahLingenfelser. com, like Some Kinda Good on Facebook or follow @ SKGFoodBlog on Instagram and YouTube.

Cast-Iron Skillet Cornbread Dressing

● 2 cups crumbled, cooled buttermilk cornbread

● 2 cups toasted white bread cubes

● 1/2 cup unsalted butter (plus extra for greasing)

● 1 sweet onion, finely diced

● 3 stalks celery, finely diced

● 4 large eggs

● 4 cups rich, low-sodium chicken or turkey stock

● 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh garden sage

● 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

● 1 teaspoon kosher salt

● 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place a well-seasoned 10-inch or 12-inch cast-iron skillet inside to get piping hot. In a large mixing bowl, combine two cups of crumbled, cooled buttermilk cornbread with two cups of toasted white bread cubes. In your hot cast-iron skillet, melt a half-cup of unsalted butter and sauté one finely diced sweet onion and three stalks of diced celery over medium heat until tender and translucent.

Remove the vegetables from the heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together four large eggs, four cups of rich, low-sodium chicken or turkey stock, one tablespoon of finely chopped fresh garden sage, one tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves, one teaspoon of kosher salt, and a half-teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper.

Gently fold the sautéed vegetables and the stock mixture into your bread crumbs until evenly moistened, ensuring the dressing stays light rather than overly packed. Carefully grease or line your cast-iron skillet with a touch of butter, pour the dressing mixture inside, and bake at 375 degrees for forty-five minutes until the top is golden brown and the edges are crisp and golden. Serve hot directly from the skillet.