I have never met anyone who doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I’m sure there are many people who don’t, but I don’t know any. It isn’t exactly a “religious” or “Christian” holiday, although certainly we as Christians look to the first Thanksgiving and note that it was indeed a time of giving thanks to the Lord for His provision. But it isn’t a “Biblical” holiday, because Jesus didn’t eat a turkey dinner with His disciples (at least to my knowledge).
So, people who don’t believe anything at all about the Lord can equally celebrate Thanksgiving. I’m not sure who they are thanking if they aren’t thanking the Lord, but sure, someone could thank their dad for working enough to pay for the feast or thank their mom for cooking that delicious pecan pie.
Obviously, it is the Lord who we must thank. But, I have begun to wonder if Thanksgiving, just like most holidays, has become so detached from its original meaning that most people just look at Thanksgiving as a day to eat. And watch football. Oh, and the Macy’s parade.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m famous for eating more than my share of mashed potatoes at every Thanksgiving Dinner.
Its a meal to look forward to all week! Turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberries, apple crisp, green bean casserole, rice, stuffing, and of course the pecan pie. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.
But the price of groceries keeps going up.
How many people around you won’t be able to afford a turkey? How many people around you can only dream of eating a big plate full of food? Maybe there is a good reason to look forward to Thanksgiving for the food if its the only big meal you’ll get to eat all year.
Be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for your family, for your home, for your food. And most of all be thankful for life. Remember, this feast that you will enjoy is less than a glimpse of what the great banquet of heaven will have to offer those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This Thanksgiving, accept Jesus Christ into your heart and be thankful that you are no longer a slave to sin, but instead are free to rejoice, free to celebrate the new life He has given you.
Enjoy your meal. But pray with your family first – and don’t just pray on special days and special occasions. Make family prayer an every day activity, keeping God first of all in your life. Thank you, Jesus, for our families, for our dreams, and for those full plates that we will enjoy on Thursday. Thank you, Jesus, that You came down to this earth to help us in our time of need, when we needed a hand to lift us out of the pit of despair, there You were.
Now may we be His hands and feet on this earth, lifting up others who need a hand.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
