What is so special about Thanksgiving anymore? I mean it would appear that Halloween, Christmas, and Easter are all “bigger deals” than Thanksgiving. Every year it seems that Christmas starts earlier and earlier the commercials, decorations, and songs have started before Halloween is even over with. It would seem that American society would prefer to do away with Thanksgiving altogether. Again I ask what is so special about Thanksgiving anymore? Here is my attempt to answer….
First of all I think we need a short history lesson on just how and why Thanksgiving came to be a national holiday. To begin with the idea of Thanksgiving originated through “giving thanks” services held on specific days to thank the Lord for the many blessings He had bestowed on people. The event that we Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621.This feast lasted three days, and it was attended by 90 Native Americans (as accounted by attendee Edward Winslow) and 53 Pilgrims (all those that had survived the first winter). It became an official Federal holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November ("Proclamation of Thanksgiving” (October 3, 1863)).
Have we fallen so far from where tradition started that we are more concerned with the next football game, if the turkey is going to be perfect, and if we will get that one thing that someone special wants on Black Friday. We have turned more towards selfishness and less about thanksgiving I believe. In its roots it was a time to praise the Lord for ALL the things that He has done! What if we remembered the heart of Thanksgiving?
If you think about it, however, the actual events of Thanksgiving Day can be rather underwhelming. In addition to watching the Macy’s Parade, tens of millions of people watch football, while tens of millions of people cook mass quantities of traditional food. Then they all get together to eat more than they should, only to top off their gluttony with pumpkin or mince pie. Then there’s clean up, a bit more TV, and that just about sums up the day for many of us. It’s more about armchair quarterbacking and eating voraciously than our hearts, even though there’s can be something wonderful about just being with your family.
There is a danger, I believe, in identifying one day a year as Thanksgiving Day. It’s the danger of implying that thanks is due on this day, but not on others. We face a similar danger, for example, when we designate the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Shouldn’t children honor their mothers more than once a year? Similarly, shouldn’t we be thankful more often than once a year on the fourth Thursday of November?
As a Christian, I would argue that giving thanks to God is important because it honors God. I would also argue that Scripture calls for consistent gratitude among God’s people. But, there is also case for gratitude that doesn’t depend on biblical theology. In fact, it appeals to common sense and even self interest. To put the matter bluntly: Gratitude will improve your life.
Gratitude magnifies our experience of the good things in life, enabling us to enjoy them more thoroughly. Gratitude also helps us to endure the hard things in life with dignity, perhaps even with humor. Gratitude is like savoring a fine meal, enjoy every bite, rather than racing through a meal as if it’s some sort of race.
But I am going to ask you not to forget the heart of Thanksgiving. In fact, I’m going to encourage you to let Thanksgiving be more than just a day. Why not take time during this week and next to remember God’s blessings and thank him for them? If your Thanksgiving Day is already full with family folderol, then set aside some time on the day before or the day after to remember all that God has given, and to say “Thank you.” Better yet, do this for several minutes each day this week and next. If you do, not only will you be doing the right thing, since God deserves thanks for all he has done for you, but also you will find that your celebration of Thanksgiving is richer and fuller than you have imagined it could be. In fact, you might just discover that your overall happiness with life improves.
Expressing heartfelt gratitude to God is one of life’s greatest joys. It’s a joy that many of us rarely experience. And it is the true heart of Thanksgiving. So let me invite you – yes, urge you – to take time in this season of Thanksgiving for real expression of gratitude to God. You’ll be glad you did. As we approach Thanksgiving Day, perhaps you and I ought to step back and consider our attitudes. Are we like that ungrateful student? Or are we allowing thankfulness to enrich our lives? Why not start giving thanks today? You don’t have to wait a week!
“Best of all is it to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song.”–Konrad von Gesner
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