Honoring Thanksgiving - Week One

While many holidays and events seem to get the publicity and the retail emphasis for several weeks to a few months, one seems to find itself squeezed out of the position it should occupy. Football games, hunting season, and overeating replace the purpose that is even revealed in the name of the holiday. Of course, you know by now that I am referring to Thanksgiving. Beginning today and for the next two weeks, I want to share some thoughts to help us all focus on the real purpose of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving had its beginnings in the early days of the colonists coming from Europe to this new land. While there were several occasions when these New England colonists stopped their labors for a day or even a week of celebrating a new harvest, health, and survival in a new land, the one that most refer to as the first Thanksgiving occured with the Plymouth colonists and the Native American Wampanoag people sharing an autumn harvest feast in 1621.

George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison all designated days of thanks or Thanksgiving during their presidences. Abraham Lincoln designated the final Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day and issued this proclamation in 1863 entreating all Americans to ask God to "commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife and to heal the wounds of the nation." After a few adjustments to the date, in 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.

So with alll that history regarding Thanksgiving, how will we honor Thanksgiving this year?

Will we see Thanksgiving as little more than a holiday that means I don't have to go to work - although first responders, hospital staff, military personnel, and many others will be at work on Thanksgiving. Will we stop to give thanks for those who work while we relax? Will we see Thanksgiving as a time to watch the big game or stake out our favorite hunting spot? Or will Thanksgiving only be a day of gluttony for those who have food while many in our world go hungry? Will we even take time to say "thank you" even once?

Paul is not noted in the Bible for brevity, rather he is often very verbose. But in

1Thessalonians 5:18 he is very direct with only a few words.

". . . give thanks in all circumstances; for that is the will

of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Let these words cause all of us to begin to consider all the things and people for whom we should be giving thanks. Next week my plan is to write about some things and people that should be at the top of our Thanksgiving list. Don't worry, food will be on the list but not at the top.

This week begin giving thanks for something or someone who truly makes a difference in your life.