It's been a few months since thanksgiving. Do people still remember what it was like?
In my experience, I did not really appreciate the meaning of thanksgiving until the past few years. I always enjoyed watching the parade and eating food, but that was about it. God has been working in my heart, though, and now I am truly thankful and grateful during the season. But it should be more than just a season, right? I mean the VERY NEXT DAY people are all selfish about who can purchase their desired items before the store runs out. And the Macy's Day Parade itself does not really ever mention being thankful for what the Lord has provided, but it all about glorifying other humans with their talents (which isn't all bad) and then goes straight into the Christmas season...with Santa. Sometimes I wonder if Thanksgiving such be placed AFTER Christmas so people can be thankful, even if they did not receive what they wanted, or placed farther away from the 'season of getting' (because it's not really a season of giving if you really think about it).
In my house, we always have one of two challenges to complete on Thanksgiving Day. My mother will often set a timer and we have 10 minutes about to find as many verses about thanksgiving, giving thanks, or being thankful as we can without the use of the internet or the glossary/index in the back of most bibles. The other challenge she has had us do before is we were challenged to write down 100 things we were thankful for and the first one to write down 100 legitimate answers would win. Again, it was indicated to focus on the Bible and things we are thankful God has provided for us, but for many years of my life, the prize that the winner would get was what motivated me the most.
And, as usual, my family would go around the table as we were eating our meal and say one thing we were thankful for. I don't know if all households do that, but it is more considered tradition to me than any of the other things I mentioned above.
One last thing that was included in my normal thanksgiving day was going on a walk, whether it be a "Turkey Trot" before thanksgiving supper, just simply a walk with my mom during a Macy's Day Parade commercial break or two, or a new "Turkey Waddle" (our excuse for walking slowly in the evening before a late dinner of leftovers).
Thanksgiving should be about more than the food, games, and the show. Thanksgiving should be about the main reason we are thankful, as believers in Christ, for the salvation and love that God has given to us. I am thankful that God is a forgiving God. He does not just shove me off to the side, or 'disown' me because I messed up once, or twice, or three times....or every day (like I do). He still loves me and forgives me when I ask for it!
I want people to remember that we can be thankful for all that God is and what he has done for us, even days and months later!
Psalm 75:1 "We give THANKS to you, O God; we give THANKS, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds."
In that verse, the word "recount" stands out to me. If I am ever in a "valley" of life (See 'Hills and Valleys' by Tauren Wells) I need to remember and count again (recount) all that God has done for me in my life already.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I think this is the most well know verse when it comes to thanksgiving, but again it needs to be remembered THROUGHOUT the year.
-Mary Beau
In my experience, I did not really appreciate the meaning of thanksgiving until the past few years. I always enjoyed watching the parade and eating food, but that was about it. God has been working in my heart, though, and now I am truly thankful and grateful during the season. But it should be more than just a season, right? I mean the VERY NEXT DAY people are all selfish about who can purchase their desired items before the store runs out. And the Macy's Day Parade itself does not really ever mention being thankful for what the Lord has provided, but it all about glorifying other humans with their talents (which isn't all bad) and then goes straight into the Christmas season...with Santa. Sometimes I wonder if Thanksgiving such be placed AFTER Christmas so people can be thankful, even if they did not receive what they wanted, or placed farther away from the 'season of getting' (because it's not really a season of giving if you really think about it).
In my house, we always have one of two challenges to complete on Thanksgiving Day. My mother will often set a timer and we have 10 minutes about to find as many verses about thanksgiving, giving thanks, or being thankful as we can without the use of the internet or the glossary/index in the back of most bibles. The other challenge she has had us do before is we were challenged to write down 100 things we were thankful for and the first one to write down 100 legitimate answers would win. Again, it was indicated to focus on the Bible and things we are thankful God has provided for us, but for many years of my life, the prize that the winner would get was what motivated me the most.
And, as usual, my family would go around the table as we were eating our meal and say one thing we were thankful for. I don't know if all households do that, but it is more considered tradition to me than any of the other things I mentioned above.
One last thing that was included in my normal thanksgiving day was going on a walk, whether it be a "Turkey Trot" before thanksgiving supper, just simply a walk with my mom during a Macy's Day Parade commercial break or two, or a new "Turkey Waddle" (our excuse for walking slowly in the evening before a late dinner of leftovers).
Thanksgiving should be about more than the food, games, and the show. Thanksgiving should be about the main reason we are thankful, as believers in Christ, for the salvation and love that God has given to us. I am thankful that God is a forgiving God. He does not just shove me off to the side, or 'disown' me because I messed up once, or twice, or three times....or every day (like I do). He still loves me and forgives me when I ask for it!
I want people to remember that we can be thankful for all that God is and what he has done for us, even days and months later!
Psalm 75:1 "We give THANKS to you, O God; we give THANKS, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds."
In that verse, the word "recount" stands out to me. If I am ever in a "valley" of life (See 'Hills and Valleys' by Tauren Wells) I need to remember and count again (recount) all that God has done for me in my life already.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I think this is the most well know verse when it comes to thanksgiving, but again it needs to be remembered THROUGHOUT the year.
-Mary Beau
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