Poor old Thanksgiving. It has somehow managed to be completely dwarfed between its overly made up sister Halloween and the Christmas season, which now apparently starts sometime in September. But Thanksgiving has its own place and time and needs to shine. Kindergarten pageants nonewithstanding, 1621 was not the start of an official American holiday - that came in 1863, with the date set officially in 1941. So it's not an ancient celebration; though of course, civilizations for thousands of years have paused to give thanks.
It seems odd that it's evolved to a point where we give thank for all we have on a Thursday, only to go out and grab stuff we DON'T have at 2 am on Friday. But I digress.
And, of course, it's silly to think that one day needs to be set aside to be grateful; just like it's silly to think that honouring the life of Jesus needs to be reduced to a season. But that appears to be the way we think; just like we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and memorial days, we hold tight to special days.
Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something besides crescent dinner rolls that melt in our mouth and turkeys that are fried. Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something other than hoping Aunt Nancy won't complain the entire day, or Uncle Bobby will show up sober. Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something other than a day before Black Friday.
Be grateful for those you love. Be grateful for those who love you. Be grateful for Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bobby. Say a prayer for those folks who have to be at work an hour before the store opens at 2 am. And if you can't be grateful, get off your keester and go help someone else: there is always another person who needs your help or your presence. Bless its heart - Thanksgiving doesn't have Zuzu's pedals or the Great Pumpkin or even Puxatawny Phil. But the meaning is clear: stop and say a prayer of thanks. And do it on Friday, as well. And Saturday, and Sunday, and --- well, you get the idea.
Thanks for reading this. :-)
It seems odd that it's evolved to a point where we give thank for all we have on a Thursday, only to go out and grab stuff we DON'T have at 2 am on Friday. But I digress.
And, of course, it's silly to think that one day needs to be set aside to be grateful; just like it's silly to think that honouring the life of Jesus needs to be reduced to a season. But that appears to be the way we think; just like we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and memorial days, we hold tight to special days.
Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something besides crescent dinner rolls that melt in our mouth and turkeys that are fried. Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something other than hoping Aunt Nancy won't complain the entire day, or Uncle Bobby will show up sober. Maybe just for this year, we can make it about something other than a day before Black Friday.
Be grateful for those you love. Be grateful for those who love you. Be grateful for Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bobby. Say a prayer for those folks who have to be at work an hour before the store opens at 2 am. And if you can't be grateful, get off your keester and go help someone else: there is always another person who needs your help or your presence. Bless its heart - Thanksgiving doesn't have Zuzu's pedals or the Great Pumpkin or even Puxatawny Phil. But the meaning is clear: stop and say a prayer of thanks. And do it on Friday, as well. And Saturday, and Sunday, and --- well, you get the idea.
Thanks for reading this. :-)
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