November 27, 2014

Give Thanks Always

 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. We celebrate that first Thanksgiving, when Pilgrims and Indians came together to share a bountiful harvest. That was in 1621. Thanksgiving wasn't made a federal holiday until 1863, during the Civil War. I note all of this because when viewed in terms of world history, of Biblical history, it's a rather new holiday.

In this country, Thanksgiving is a time to gather together, to eat, to watch football and, increasingly, to shop. A few weeks ago I heard a sermon about the importance of slowing down during the holidays. We should take time to actually talk to one another. There was great concern that Thanksgiving was getting lost in the midst of our hurry toward Christmas and all its material gifts. All good points. There is certainly truth there.

Except that why should Thanksgiving -- a holiday created by man -- be the only day we concern ourselves with being grateful for all God does for us every day of the year? For that matter, why not talk and visit with family and friends other times as well? Why wait?

And why get upset when we are inundated with Christmas advertisements and all that goes with it? Shouldn't the real upset come from the materialization of the birth of Jesus Christ? It's not our birthday or so the saying goes. But we act as though it is. We all do.

I understood what the pastor meant. I did. My early childhood memories are filled with Thanksgiving Days spent at my grandparents' house, surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins and the occasionally friends and extended family. For some folks, that still exists but for many it is a time of rush, rush, rush. There is no time to enjoy, to savor, to make new memories.

That's how life is now and it's just so sad. We should make time each and every day to give thanks to God for who He is and all He does. For His Presence. For His love. For His grace and mercy. Thanksgiving should be every single day.