Let’s Not Skip Over Thanksgiving

Remember when you were a child and you couldn’t wait to become a teenager? If you could have, you would have skipped from ten to thirteen so you could enjoy all the wonder of the teen years! But in so doing, you would have missed out on all that is special about being 10, 11 and 12. It’s the blessing of the entrance into the teen years. You are changing and it’s pretty wonderful.

In our society, Christmas is the “thirteenth birthday” everyone’s wanting to hurry to, and in the rush, Thanksgiving is becoming forgotten. If you have your tree up right now, I’m not shaming you, but I want to encourage us all to make much of this wonderful holiday at the end of the month. I’m hoping I can inspire you to relish the wonder of Thanksgiving.

My mind’s eye envisions holidays in the past that included paper turkeys decorating the table, drippy candles and real acorns that also dotted the tablescape. Simple name cards mark the place where each guest will sit. The smell of pumpkin pie wafts from the kitchen. Colored leaves ironed in wax paper are hung in the windows. It’s simple and wonderful and very much anticipated,

A huge turkey is basted in the oven, roasting low and slow while the parades are playing on the television in the background, a cadence for the busyness happening in the kitchen. Pies sit cooling on the counter beside the charcuterie trays of olives, pickles, crackers and cheeses. The guests gather in groups, chatting, laughing and catching up on the latest football wins and losses, as well as the most recent news of children, jobs or life events.

But when dinner is ready and everyone sits around the table, the time for the giving of thanks arrives. Each one voices the blessings that only come from the hand of a loving God. Some are spoken with joy, others speak words between sobs in their throat because the thanks is for grace given during a recent trial. We miss the ones who are not seated at the table, and acknowledge their presence in past days. Then heads are bowed and our great God is acknowledged and thanked for being the Giver of every good gift.

The meal commences after the prayer and bellies are filled of course, but hearts also swell with the wonder of these precious gifts – times that allow us to stop and consider just how very blessed we really are. These are all grace gifts from the Lord as James reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Oh no, we wouldn’t think of skipping over Thanksgiving. Our hearts are too full. They throb with the desire to say, “Thank you, Father!” Christmas will be here soon enough and then we will joyfully celebrate His most special birthday!”

What is your favorite part of celebrating Thanksgiving? What memories does the holiday bring to your mind?

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!