Giving Thanks

It's been a long time since I've posted on my blog, and I'm going to take a new tack. While lengthy posts with pictures and links can be useful and interesting, most of you, dear readers, probably don't have the time. So, sit back, relax and read my first blog in 1.5 years.

Today is Thanksgiving. A holiday formally recognized by both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in 1789 and 1863, but people had been celebrating the day since the 1600's. (If you're interested in more info, here's a link to the real story) Thanksgiving Day is a time for remembering all the blessings that we Americans have, and to give thanks to God.

This is a holiday that not only gets sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, it almost gets squeezed out altogether; certainly in retail establishments where Christmas paraphernalia is often displayed as early as October. Not that I mind that so much, because I LOVE Christmas, but a day, one solitary day, set aside to give thanks to God, I think, deserves more focus in our lives.

We can keep the pumpkins on display, maybe add some fall color. May I suggest that a kind of Advent calendar be employed for the days between Halloween and Thanksgiving? Instead of little gifts of candy and such, perhaps family members could take the time to mention one thing each day for which they are thankful. Little guys could draw pictures. The family could share delicious treats featuring pecans, pumpkins, cinnamon, and the like. Turns out I'm not the first person to think of this.

Check Pinterst for more ideas.

Just sayin'.

I know there are folks reading this that thank God every day. I do. I thank him for my coffee and oatmeal, my family and friends, my neighborhood and those that live here, but I also take time to thank Him for hot and cold running water! There are people in this world that still have to carry water from a lone spigot back to their homes. My friend, Jess, went on a missionary trip to Africa and posted her experiences on Facebook. She said that even though the people have so little, they are beautiful, happy people, thankful for the smallest thing. They have few material things, but possess great joy.

So between the Trick or Treating and the frenetic gift purchasing that results in Black Friday spending that finally puts retailers into the "black," there's Thanksgiving Day.

And what have we done to it? In my opinion, we have taken a day of recognizing God's goodness to us, and made it into a Bacchanalian feast. Not that there's anything wrong with feasting, but overeating until we have to loosen our pants and moan while prostrate before the big screen TV (watching football, of course. Not that there's anything wrong with that!), totally misses the point of the day.



It is good and right to give thanks to the Lord. (Ps. 92:1) Not only on Thanksgiving, but every day. Have you ever noticed that thankful people are rarely grouchy? An attitude of thankfulness also keeps us humble, especially if we acknowledge the gift Giver instead of patting ourselves on the back.

Lastly, I am thankful for you taking time to read my blog. I am thankful that I have no pain while typing, and am especially grateful to my acupuncturist, Dr. Kim. I look forward to regularly sharing with you again.

Have a blessed and thank-filled day.

(PS. I couldn't resist the pictures.)