This is the month when most American families will gather around a table of bounty on Thanksgiving Day. Some will bow their heads to give thanks, some will take their turn in speaking of something for which they are thankful, and some will chow down into the feast of plenty with no thought of gratitude.
As a Christian I have frequently conflicting thoughts and emotions about the holidays. Who doesn’t enjoy festive foods, decorations and special times of family interaction? We need special times and special celebrations in life as individuals and as families. We need them as a society as elements of common cohesiveness. As Christians, our concern should be in regarding the how and why of what we celebrate. But of all our major calendar holidays, Thanksgiving (to me) is the least controversial, and for various reasons, has the potential for being the best.
We are about six generations forward from the Great Depression and a previous culture in which bounty was not so common. No wonder then that we are now so prone to whine and complain in the midst of relative luxury. “The eye is never satisfied…” (Ecclesiastes 1:8) As a whole, most of us don’t know how to be truly thankful on any day of the year. We can’t fully appreciate anything or anyone until we are without them. Even when we try to be more aware of even some of the most common yet wonderful things we should be thankful for (example: the vision to see God’s creativity displayed in His complex yet gloriously ordered prism-like hues of autumn leaves and light) we soon allow some negative thought to swallow our effort.
The Scriptures don’t tell us to set aside a day to celebrate the birth of Christ, nor even His resurrection from death. We should celebrate these ‘unspeakable gift(s) [II Corinthians 9:15] every day through our thoughts, words and deeds. The celebration of Christmas and Easter are Christian liberties (to be celebrated [or not] as would be pleasing and acceptable to God and in accordance with one’s Biblically grounded convictions). But the Scriptures are full of commandments and admonitions to be thankful and full of praise to the One who is the source of every good thing. A good place to begin: Consider the ground which nurtures the lilies as well as much of our food. Then let our thoughts of thankfulness slowly rise to the stars as a reminder that every day should be a thanksgiving day. (Luke 6:35) ~ DLA
A few relative Scripture references: Psalm 26:6-7, 50:14, 95:2, 100:4, 147: 7-11, II Corinthians 9: 14-15, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, & Revelation 7: 12
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