What About 'Thanksgiving’?
‘… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
About Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving. Do you celebrate it? I’ve never celebrated the American tradition before but I find it intriguing. My mind imagines log fires, the smell of pumpkin pie wafting through the house, families and friends having fun together.
That’s my idealized picture. My guess is that most Thanksgiving celebrations are far more haphazard. The log fire won’t light, the pumpkin pie has black edges and the dog’s just escaped. But the heart of it is a wonderful thing. Time set aside to thank God for all He’s given; a whole day dedicated to it.
Why talk about Thanksgiving when we have the Harvest Festival?
The equivalent in Britain is the Harvest Festival. The first Harvest Festival was in 1843 when Cornish Reverend Robert Hawker invited his parishioners to a special service to thank God for the harvest. Yet do we really see this as an opportunity to thank God for His provision? Perhaps we could breathe new life into the Harvest Festival tradition by setting aside the day for intentional gratitude, or even join in celebrating Thanksgiving?
This is not about another chance to eat turkey or have a holiday. It’s because biblical patterns show us that intentionally recognizing the ‘Giver,’ not just gifts, is valuable. The Israelities held the Feast of Tabernacles to celebrate after gathering the harvest (Leviticus 23:29-43). When we don’t recognize God as our provider, it causes God distress because it distorts our relationship with Him. In the book of Hosea, God says that the Israelities ‘did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love … I bent down to feed them.' (Hosea 11:3-4) Ultimately, all the good things we enjoy have one Source.
Have we forgotten about Thanksgiving?
Some will disagree with me, stating that they are thankful everyday. Others might suggest that the British find ‘sincere and openly expressed gratitude to be frankly embarrassing’ so it is doomed to failure (Kate Harrad). Perhaps if we started being openly grateful we’d get past the crimson faces?
If the ‘whole American people,’ why not every nation? Arguably those from any religion or none would benefit from a day of reflection upon the good in their lives.
I don't always find being thankful comes naturally ... but the idea of intentional gratitude for a day sounds like a good start. Perhaps we could cook a meal and think about where the food has come from: the farmer who cultivated it, sunshine that helped it grow, companies who packaged and sold it ...
What are your thoughts on thanksgiving – should we have a specific day in the year dedicated to it?