What becomes a Thanksgiving Beef

Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't post a thing.  The truth is, I don't have much to say about Thanksgiving, and what I would say is the same every year.  I think the idea of Thanksgiving is great: we should all take time to give thanks to our Creator for the blessings He bestows on us.  But I really think we need to do that everyday.  And having a holiday for it hasn't really helped things, as how many of us actually take time to give real thanks?  This year, we didn't even go around the table and say something we were thankful for.  Which is a shame, because, frankly, my list is pretty long.  But it's also nothing new than what I say often throughout the year: I'm thankful for an amazing husband, a beautiful little girl, a little boy on the way, my generous and loving parents, a great family of in-laws, my own brother and sister and all my hilarious and fun-to-be-with nieces and nephews, not to mention the spectacular set of friends I enjoy and my church family.  The list doesn't end there, by any means, that's just the short version. 

But it doesn't seem like these sorts of things get much attention.  Instead, it's more about the big meal, for which, yes, the holiday was instituted and for those early American founders it was likely their biggest meal of the year, also.  But big meals are no big deal around here: we usually have more than enough to eat, whereas they were celebrating getting to eat.  How many of them looked at that bounty and were giddy at the thought that they not only had enough to get them through the lean months of winter, but also enough to glut themselves just a little bit for one night?  Very different for us modern Americans who listen to tips on how to keep the calorie intake down on tv news and radio each year. 

I think about this each year when Thanksgiving rolls around and then I let it pass.  For me, the biggest excitement about the holiday of Thanksgiving is that once it's over, it means Christmas can truly get going, my favorite time of year.  (Haven't heard that before, have you?)  I know many people take the attitude of giving Thanksgiving its due, but, really, do we?  We eat, we nap, we watch football (some of us), and we talk about how good it is to be with family.  There's nothing wrong with those things at all, but besides that brief Thanksgiving prayer before we dig in, how many of us truly take time to give thanks to the One who blesses us? 

Take up this challenge with me next year: spend as much time in prayer and thanksgiving as you or your loved one spends on that holiday turkey, or the stuffing, or the mashed potatoes and gravy.  I've seen others give thanks for at least one thing each day leading up to the holiday.  Make the focus of the season to truly give thanks and to be grateful and reunite the holiday with its purpose.