Skipping Thanksgiving
It seems like the day after Halloween, Costco and Sam's immediately put out the Christmas decorations. Radio stations switch to "All Christmas, All the Time!" (Note that after New Year's, we don't switch to "All 4th of July, All the Time!" We aren't overrun with John Phillips Sousa stations.)
My friend, Leslie Dawson, once pointed this out to me, suggesting that it shows our lack of gratitude and constant desire for more.
She's right. We often skip Thanksgiving. Oh, we may gather, watch football, and eat turkey, but are our hearts truly thankful?
We go straight from "give me some candy," to speeding past being thankful, to "It's Black Friday! I need more stuff!" (And we will trample people to get it.)
More, more, more…
What doesn't fit in the house goes in the garage. What doesn't fit in the garage goes in the shed. Can't fit in the shed? Rent a storage unit. And don't even get me started about what's up in the attic.
Don Henley of the Eagles puts our lack of gratitude this way in his song, "My Thanksgiving."
"Now, the trouble with you and me, my friend
Is the trouble with this nation
Too many blessings, too little appreciation
And I know that kind of notion—well, it just ain't cool
So send me back to Sunday school."
Maybe Mr. Henley is right and we all could use a trip back to Sunday school.
The concept of "thanks" or "thankfulness" comes up 173 times in the Bible. But let's just quickly look at three of those instances.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:5-7
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
See some common themes? Rejoice, pray, give thanks, and peace.
These are not things to be rushed past. They are not speed bumps on the way to Christmas to be swerved around or run over. They are all worth stopping for.
Maybe that's why the rates of anxiety and depression can run so high during the holiday season. When we don't stop long enough to pray and give thanks, we miss the peace and rejoicing. There is no "merry and bright" in the fast lane. (Surely make you lose your mind.)
Let's make a pact to slow down this Thanksgiving week and show gratitude. Stay at the table a little longer. Tell stories and laugh hard together. Don't rush out the door. Start up a conversation over doing the dishes. Linger in the moment. Take the time to make a list of your many blessings rather than your Christmas list.
After all, we've much to be thankful for. As the guy, who I'll say "pass the potatoes to" on Thursday, said in the song I quoted earlier…
"I've got great expectations
I've got family and friends
I've got satisfying work
I've got a back that bends
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving" - Don Henley
Happy Thanksgiving!
