Throughout the years, my grandmother gave us cuttings or babies derived from several of her houseplants, including a philodendron, a pencil cactus, and a Thanksgiving cactus. My wife and I have tended the philodendron and Thanksgiving cactus across the 40-plus years of our marriage, and the pencil cactus didn’t survive the journey.
Yesterday, the buds on our Thanksgiving cactus began to open. This morning, the plant is almost in full bloom. As I gazed at the salmon color, I began reflecting on the history and morphology of the plant.
Every year as the holidays approach, you can find various colors of these holiday cacti for sale at your local garden center or grocery store.. They’re often lumped together under the name “Christmas cactus,” but not all holiday cacti celebrate Christmas. Some arrive a full month early, bursting into bloom right around Thanksgiving.
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of cactus you actually own, or why it blooms when it does, here are a few tips:
1. Start With the Leaves: The Easiest Way to Tell Them Apart
Holiday cacti don’t have traditional leaves. Instead, they have flattened segments called phylloclades, and their shapes reveal their identity.
Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Edges are pointed, like little hooks or claws.
Segments look more jagged and angular.
Sometimes called the “claw cactus.”
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera × buckleyi)
Edges are smooth and scalloped, with a rounded shape.
The overall look is softer, gentler, and less spiky.
If your cactus looks like it’s growing tiny crab claws, it’s probably a Thanksgiving cactus, even if the label said “Christmas.”
2. Bloom Time: What the Calendar Can Tell You
Bloom time is the next biggest giveaway.
Thanksgiving Cactus: Late October through November
These are the early bloomers of the holiday cactus world. They often hit their peak just in time to sit next to the giblet gravy.
Christmas Cactus: Mid-December through January
These bloom closer to Christmas and sometimes even keep going into the New Year.
That said, bloom times aren’t locked in stone. Light and temperature play a huge role, so a Christmas cactus may bloom early—or a Thanksgiving cactus may bloom twice.
3. How the Blooms Look and Grow
Beyond timing, the flowers themselves offer clues.
Thanksgiving Cactus Blooms
Grow more horizontally, sticking out like little trumpets.
Look slightly more pointed and dramatic.
Christmas Cactus Blooms
Tend to hang downward, bell-like and delicate.
Appear fuller and more symmetrical.
Either way, holiday cactus blossoms are stunning—long-lasting, vibrant, and perfectly timed to bring color to shorter days.
4. Why Your Cactus Blooms When It Does
Holiday cacti are photoperiod plants, meaning they respond to:
Long nights
Shorter days
Cooler temperatures
Give them 12–14 hours of uninterrupted darkness and temps around 55–65°F, and they’ll start forming buds. A plant near a warm lamp may bloom late; one in a cool, darker room may bloom early.
Sometimes they even surprise you with a bonus bloom in spring.
Whether yours blooms at Thanksgiving or Christmas—or both—it’s one of the few houseplants that comes decorated right out of the box. Understanding their subtle differences helps you appreciate the unique beauty each brings to the season.
So next time you see a holiday cactus, take a closer look. You might just discover whether you have a Thanksgiving cactus showing up early, or a Christmas cactus right on time. Whether you bought your cactus this year or you have an heirloom edition, you have a living plant adding its color to your holiday décor.
(This article is curated from a variety of sources.)
Over the years, I have observed that family gatherings during the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving, can be a great opportunity for the family to visit, share highlights of the previous year, and to enjoy a delicious meal. But I have also noted that such occasions can serve as a potential theatre for family drama.
Thanksgiving can be a glorious blend of turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, and pecan pie. But Turkey Day can also serve as the annual reminder that every family has at least one person who stirs the pot—literally and figuratively. If your family gatherings resemble a cross between a Norman Rockwell painting and Family Feud, this list is for you.
Here are 7 ways to minimize family drama at Thanksgiving,or at least keep it to the level that doesn’t require professional referees or emergency pie rations:
1. Strategically assign seating like you are planning the Geneva Convention.
Whether your family includes the nephew who loves to “just play devil’s advocate,” or the sister who lives up north and believes every conversation is a debate tournament, strategic seating is essential.
Put peaceful people together.
Put calmer personalities in the middle
Seat the jokester between potentially rival factions.
This is a diplomatic summit, and not just dinner. Think of your table like a diplomatic summit. Your mission is to prevent World War III between those who prefer gravy and those who opt for cranberry sauce.
2. Declare a pre-meal politics ban.
Make a gentle announcement: “Friends, family, and beloved relatives who may or may not test my sanctification… this is a politics-free zone.”
If someone starts drifting in that direction, have a few pre-approved diversion lines ready:
“Speaking of election results, did anyone bring dessert?”
“Fascinating—pass the gravy!”
“Let’s save that conversation for Arbor Day.”
If diversions fail, distract with pie. Pie always wins.
3. Give everyone a job—preferably a safe one.
Idle hands are the playground of unnecessary opinions. Assign tasks.
The person who can’t cook? Napkin duty.
The one who always shows up late? Butter the rolls—they may still be warm.
The family perfectionist? Organize the drink station. And let them color-coordinate to their heart’s content.
A busy family is a calm family.
4. Preemptively hide the board games that cause trouble.
Every family has that game. You know the one.
Monopoly: ruins relationships.
Phase 10: awakens competitive spirits not seen since the Colosseum in Ancient Rome.
Uno: historically responsible for more wars than Europe.
This year, choose something cooperative, like a puzzle. Or a walk. Or staring peacefully at the wall.
5. Establish a “drama-free zone” table rule.
It can be a simple set of guidelines.
No gossip.
No passive-aggressive comments.
No discussing who is “still single,” “still unemployed,” “still gluten-free,’ “still unwed,” or “still without child.”
No family wagers on which school Lane Kiffin is going to.
The turkey deserves better than that.
6. Prepare preemptive conversation starters.
Keep a short list of prompting, harmless questions on standby:
“What’s one thing you’re thankful for this year?”
“What’s a favorite Thanksgiving memory?”
“What is the best book, movie, or TV show you’ve enjoyed this year?
These are mostly safe questions.
7. Have at least three emergency exit lines ready.
You’re not fleeing the family—you’re strategically preserving your sanity.
Try:
“Excuse me, I think the sweet potatoes are calling my name.”
“Hold that thought—I need to check the oven.”
“Did someone hear a knock at the door? Let me double-check.”
Gracefully step away. Return with pie.
For almost every family, Thanksgiving gatherings are a blend of gratitude and quirks, tradition and chaos, sweetness and spice, and not just on the dessert table. Family drama may not disappear entirely, but with humor, grace, and a few strategic decisions, you can minimize the meltdowns and maximize the moments worth remembering.
And if all else fails, just keep passing the rolls. People have a hard time arguing when their mouths are full.
Do you need an attitude adjustment? As we navigate the uncertainty and anxiety of living in a polarized culture, it is possible for our attitude to get so significantly out of alignment with our faith and values that we need more than an attitude adjustment. We may need an extreme makeover.
Gratitude is more than a polite habit or a holiday theme—it is a transformative force that recalibrates the way we see the world. As the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously.” Gratitude doesn’t just decorate life; it upgrades it.
Think about the way our smart devices regularly ask for software updates. Whether we accept them or avoid them, those updates are designed to stabilize the system, fix hidden issues, and improve overall performance. In a similar way, practicing gratitude is like installing an internal “attitude update.” It doesn’t change all our circumstances, but it changes the way we engage them. Gratitude strengthens the emotional operating system that carries us through the day.
During the dark winter at Valley Forge in 1777, General George Washington encouraged his weary troops not simply by calling them to endure hardship, but by helping them reflect on what they were fighting for. That shift—from hardship to meaning—sparked renewed resolve. Gratitude for a higher purpose sustained them when supplies were limited and conditions were brutal. Their circumstances didn’t change overnight, but their attitude toward them did.
Modern psychology confirms what wisdom and faith traditions have taught for centuries. In his groundbreaking research at the University of California–Davis, Dr. Robert Emmons found that individuals who practice gratitude—especially through habits like journaling—experience noticeable emotional, physical, and relational benefits. Participants who regularly reflected on what they were thankful for reported fewer illness symptoms, increased optimism, stronger immune responses, and greater overall life satisfaction. Gratitude, in other words, literally upgrades the mind and body.
Gratitude can totally reshape our attitude.
Even in the daily grind, we see gratitude driving resilience. A young professional recently shared how her morning practice of listing three things she was thankful for—even on difficult days—helped her push through burnout, manage workplace stress, and regain clarity in her relationships. She said, “I didn’t change my job. Gratitude changed me.”
Gratitude does not deny hardships, erase grief, or eliminate challenges. But it reframes our experience of them. It shifts our focus from what is missing to what is present, from scarcity to abundance, from complaint to contentment. And over time, it transforms us—quietly, steadily, faithfully—from the inside out.
With good reason, Scripture encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Gratitude is not merely a mood. It is a spiritual discipline, a psychological booster, and a daily choice that enriches our lives far beyond the holiday table.
When we practice gratitude consistently, we don’t just feel better—we become better. A more enjoyable friend. A more appreciated colleague. A more pleasant neighbor. A better human being.
Years ago, at a Baptist Student Union event, minister and humorist, Grady Nutt, challenged us to live with “an attitude of gratitude.” At that time, I began to see the correlation between attitude and gratitude.
Now, across several years of serving as a pastor, I have observed firsthand the transformative impact of gratitude.
(This past Sunday, I was privileged to share the homecoming sermon at the First Baptist Church of Williams on the occasion of their 175th anniversary, a church I was blessed to serve from 1987-1995, and a church that is like family to us. Today’s column is the message I shared.)
Good morning, friends! What a blessing and an honor it is to be here with you as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of First Baptist Church, Williams.
Think about that for a moment — 175 years! Generations have been baptized here, taught here, married here, and sent out from here. Families have rejoiced together, grieved together, prayed together, and walked with Christ together in this place.
Today we stand on holy ground — not because of bricks or mortar, but because of the faith that has grounded us here for nearly two centuries. Yet, this anniversary is not simply a moment for nostalgia. It’s a moment to remember why this church exists and to recommit ourselves to the mission of God’s church for the future.
On this occasion, and in the days ahead, I encourage you to treasure the past, embrace the present, and prepare for the future.
Let us begin with the scripture reading from Matthew 16:13-18:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
In this exchange between Jesus and his disciples, Jesus not only promises to build his church on a solid foundation, but he goes further and declares that the Gates of Hades will not prevail against his church.
Let me share a little background on that last phrase: In the first century, Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus spoke these words, was known for its pagan temples and shrines, including a notable cave dedicated to the false god Pan. Ancient sources referred to the cave’s chasm as the “Gates of Hades,” symbolizing a doorway to the netherworld. For Jesus’ disciples, his declaration carried distinct imagery that conveyed the message that even in the face of what many viewed as a literal entrance to the underworld, God’s kingdom would stand strong.
For us today, it means that realities such as principalities and powers, evil motives, conspiracy theories, and deceitful or manipulative political systems are no match for the Church as long as the Church stays focused on Jesus and does not co-opt with them.
By the way, you may have heard that since we retired across the mountain in Hokes Bluff, Mike Duncan, Bruce Boozer, Alan Boozer, and I play golf together at the Twin Bridges Golf Course in Gadsden. What a great group of guys!
At Twin Bridges, there is a senior golf group notoriously known as the “Saints and Sinners.” The group is so well known that when Mike went for his doctor’s visit in Birmingham, his doctor asked him where he plays golf in Gadsden. When Mike told him he plays at Twin Bridges, the doctor asked, “Are you a part of the Saints and Sinners?”
A few weeks later, one of the Saints and Sinners invited us to join their group. We were honored to be asked, but we politely declined. Afterward, as we were preparing to tee off, I asked Mike, “If we had joined the group, which would you be… a saint or a sinner?” I’ve known Mike for over 50 years, and that’s the first time I’ve ever seen him speechless. Just kidding! As the conversation continued, we discussed how there is a little bit of saint and sinner in all of us.
Retired pastor and social worker, Bob Lockhart, was a member at the First Baptist Church of Corbin where I served following my tenure here. Bob was sort of the Will Campbell of Kentucky. Will Campbell, who wrote Brother to a Dragonfly was a minister, civil rights activist, and outspoken advocate for the “least of these.”
During one of Bob’s sermons at First Baptist Church of Corbin, Kentucky, where I served after my tenure at Williams, as he was talking about Paul’s description of the “spiritual man” versus “the carnal man,” Bob offered this poignant illustration: I think that inside of me there are at least 10 voices that are voting members on everything I do. I became a Christian when at least 6 of those voting members formed a majority, leading me to commit my life to Jesus. But I’ve never known a person whose inner constituents voted unanimously to follow Jesus at the same time. In the beginning, it’s almost always a simple majority. However, after our baptism, we spend the remainder of our days convincing the other internal voices and motives to align with Jesus. And we backslide and get in trouble when the prodigal voices within compel one or more of the committed voices to vote with them, which is why even Christians are capable of choosing the wrong path again.
I’ve never forgotten that illustration. If Bob is right, then discipleship is all about getting inner voices and motives in line and in tune with what Jesus teaches. And the work of the church is about inviting people to follow Jesus, and loving them through all the seasons of life as they continue to be transformed into the Jesus way of life..
As we think about the work of First Baptist Church of Williams, let us treasure the memories of the past.
For me and Amanda, some of our best memories are from this church and this community. When I think about the Williams community, I can’t help but smile at the memories that have shaped me, encouraged me, and that continue to inspire me.
I remember Aunt Johnnie’s homemade rolls and her communion bread made from homemade pie crust.
I remember early morning coffee at E.L.’s store with a few grounds still in the bottom of every cup.
I remember Candlelight Christmas Eve services where you could almost hear the baby cry and the angels sing.
I remember a familiar rugged two-tone 1972 Dodge Ram driven by Ralph Green.
I remember Reuben Boozer’s articulate and heartfelt prayers.
I remember Phoebe Birkhimer’s handwritten notes of encouragement, and her sending me a thank-you note for sending her a thank-you note.
I remember outdoor baptisms at Hammonds Farm.
I remember youth mission trips to New Orleans and youth retreats to Gatlinburg.
I remember the Williams Travel Group going to Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon.
I remember Harold Wallace tickling the keys of the piano with an old gospel classic.
I remember Bob McLeod strumming his guitar as he shared one of his homespun tunes about Green’s Store, missing dentures, or a simple man called Jesus.
I remember Pascal Hamby and Lamar Denkins verbally sparring as they walked around the new track.
I remember the trucks and buses that pulled up to the church cemetery to film an episode of the TV show “Unsolved Mysteries.”
I remember Hubert and Herman telling me for the umpteenth time how they installed these durable ceiling tiles here in the sanctuary.
I remember convincing George McKerley to fill in for us on the organ for a couple of Sundays, and he never departed until his health prohibited him from continuing.
I remember Roy Barker, who Pat still says was the best bass singer to come from the Barker family, defeating almost all the youth and college students in ping pong.
I remember Dean Norton teaching a well-prepared and grammatically correct Sunday School lesson to her professional women’s class.
I remember Ralph Langley’s passionate and personal revival sermons.
I remember Perry Green taking my rough drawings of the proposed new fellowship hall and educational wing, and enlisting one of his students to make a complete architectural design on Auto-Cad.
And I remember Butch Welch, John English, Kevon Green, Ty Green, and so many of you working day in and day out to make that dream a reality.
And the list goes on.
Each memory tells a story — of faith, friendship, laughter, and love. This church has been a place where saints and sinners have gathered side-by-side, learning to follow Jesus and practice his teachings.
We give thanks for those who have gone before us — the faithful men and women who built this church, taught its children, prayed through its challenges, and dreamed of its future. Their faithfulness is the foundation on which we now stand.
As Hebrews 12 reminds us, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race set before us.”
On this momentous anniversary, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities of the present. A church is not just an institution but a community of people sharing life as they better learn to follow Jesus. Jesus didn’t say, “Come, join an organization.” He said, “Follow me.”
The Book of Acts gives us a model of this in the early church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” They weren’t perfect, but they were learning together what it meant to love God and neighbor.
That’s what this congregation has been for 175 years — a group of disciples who are learning, growing, stumbling, forgiving, and pressing on together. Jesus teaches us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Here at Williams, we have been taught through the years that intellectual integrity, emotional maturity, physical energy, and biblical fidelity are co-laborers and not adversaries in building God’s kingdom.
Bishop Michael Curry, author of Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus, wrote, “Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live… built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace. Here the love of Christ shall end divisions: all are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.”
Our community needs a church that loves deeply, welcomes broadly, and stands firmly on the teachings of Christ. Our nation needs a church that embodies the grace, truth, and love of Jesus. And our world needs a church that is authentic, compassionate, and proactive.
As we look ahead, let us prepare for a future where God is doing a new thing. Our God does not tend to give repeat performances. Isaiah 43 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
I don’t know what the future of the church looks like — but I know it doesn’t look exactly like the past. God is always doing something new. Our loyalty is not to structures or systems, but to the living Lord.
My friend Reggie McNeal, author of Missional Renaissance, persuasively contends, “The Spirit of God is at work doing a new thing in the world, and it’s the job of the church to get on the same page with the Spirit — not the job of the Spirit to get on the same page with the church.”
For 175 years, this church has been the hands and feet of Jesus in this community. As St. Teresa of Ávila observed, “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.”
That means the mission continues — but with new tools, new creativity, and new courage.
Here is the good news: God has sent you a minister with a pastor’s heart and a scholar’s mind named Ryan Linkous, who is just the right person for a time such as this.
Ryan, I want you to know that all of us who have served this community (Floyd, Tad, Lamar, me, Mike, and Chris) have all planted and cultivated this pastoral soil to the best of our ability. Now you have inherited the same fertile soil we have tilled. You not only have our support. You have our respect, our admiration, and our prayers. May you and this congregation continue to enjoy a fruitful partnership. You are already nurturing a healthier family of faith in this great community.
I am passionate about helping churches become healthier. A healthy church in the next century will reflect traits like these:
A healthy church embraces and utilizes the full giftedness of both men and women.
A healthy church leverages diversity as a kingdom asset.
A healthy church teaches all ages to love God with heart, mind, and strength.
A healthy church prays, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
A healthy church employs multiple ways to invite people to follow Jesus, and then teaches them how by example.
A healthy church is faithful to the gospel message while being flexible in method.
And yes — a healthy church treasures the past, embraces the present, and prepares for the future.
God is not nearly finished with this church yet. Your reach goes wider and farther than you’ve ever imagined.
Here is just one example: Many of you remember Mike and K.T. Jack. They moved here in the early 1990s and lived on New Liberty Road. K.T. was a drill sergeant at Fort McClellan, and Mike was a contractor. They had one daughter when they arrived here and soon had another on the way. They joined First Baptist Williams soon after moving, and K.T. was baptized at Hammonds Farm. K.T. ran on the track here at the church regularly. In fact, she was seen running just a few days before the birth of their second daughter, and back on the track just a few days after. She was tough. None of us were surprised when she was selected to be the first woman to lead the 4th Regiment of Cadets at West Point.
Near the end of her first year, tragedy struck. Mike called me early on the Saturday after Labor Day in 1996 to report that K.T. had been involved in a motorcycle accident on the base, and she was killed instantly. We were in shock. Later that morning. Chaplain Sonny Moore from West Point called to ask me if I could speak at K.T.’s memorial service in the Chapel at West Point. He further explained that 3 cadets had died earlier in the year, and the West Point community was experiencing compounded grief. Then he added that most of K.T.’s friends and those in her office had seen the photo of me baptizing K.T., a photo which hung proudly above her desk. It was a story she told frequently and a story about First Baptist Williams that I shared at her service.
And there are more stories of grace, influence, and witness to come as we move forward into the future. But we must move forward.
Back in the 1980s and 90s, Ralph Green served as church custodian. Ralph was loyal, good-hearted, and always on time. One morning, as I arrived and was parking, I noticed Ralph pulling up to the stop sign at the store — backward. He came through the intersection and pulled into the church parking lot going in a forward position with the tailgate first, and he had done so all the way from home. When I said, “What’s going on with the truck, Ralph?” he explained that his transmission had locked up, and reverse was the only gear that worked! Then he added, “And I wasn’t about to miss work.”
To this day, Ralph is the only man I’ve ever seen move forward by going backward. But in over thirty years of ministry, I’ve seen a lot of churches try to do the same thing — trying to move forward while looking backward. It just doesn’t work. And when we try, it ends in calamity.
As a church, your transmission still works, and you have multiple gears, so press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
So, as we celebrate this 175th anniversary, the call is clear: Let the church be the church.
When storms arise and fears dismay — let the church be the church. When the fields are white unto harvest and the laborers are few — let the church be the church. When politics divides, and friends deride — let the church be the church. When others ridicule you and say unkind things about you — let the church be the church. When tragedy strikes or death invades — let the church be the church. When life throws you a curveball and the unexpected happens — let the church be the church. When times are tough, let the church be tougher — let the church be the church.
The church is not a building, or a program, or an institution. Always remember, the church is the resilient, determined, courageous people of God, redeemed by Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and sent into the world to share the light and love of the Creator of the universe.
This is my word of blessing for you: “As you move forward in faith, may your resolve be clear and your mission sure: Let the church be the church — for the glory of God, for the good of this community, and for the hope of the world. Amen!
Cove Creek Reflections 