Where does the time go these days? It feels like just yesterday was the start of summer, and here we are at Thanksgiving week! Over the years I’ve noticed how this holiday can mean very different things to different people. To some people, Thanksgiving is all about the food, for others it’s the gathering of family, and then there are those that don’t really get all the hype and tradition and just see this time of year as a (possible) day off of work.
Growing up my outlook on Thanksgiving was all about tradition. Sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, crisp butter rolls, turkey, stuffing and apple pie were all “Thanksgiving foods” because we didn’t have them throughout the rest of the year (or at least not all together), Dad was off work and we all watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as food was being prepared. When I was in 9th grade, I started wondering if Thanksgiving would still be a special day without all the traditions I had come to know as Thanksgiving. This thought process prompted me to write this poem for my 9th grade composition class:
Thanksgiving is not about turkey and stuffing
For there are those who have close to nothing
But still they thank God for all of their days
For everything He has sent their way.
We tend to get stressed among all the clatter
But we need to know, all that doesn’t matter!
What matters is that
We thank God up above
For His great kindness, mercy and love
So during the hustle and bustle each year
Take time to thank God
With a shout and a cheer!
He’ll be with us always
Right here to stay
So, how ’bout we come to Him and say
“Thank you LORD for all you have done
Thank you God, thank you tons!”
© 2003
So, now that I am married and have a home of my own, what has Thanksgiving grown into for me? I look at the holiday of Thanksgiving as reminder to be grateful all year ’round. It’s easy to get so caught up in what is going on in life and forget to be thankful for that life. Thanksgiving helps to take me out of this crazy life for just a little while to focus on gratitude and to reflect on why I am thankful. I still really enjoy getting together with my family, especially now that we aren’t all living in the same place anymore, and I can’t deny my obsession with “Thanksgiving foods” (especially that apple pie!), but Thanksgiving has taken on such a deeper meaning. I am so grateful that I have been given the time to pause and reflect, and grateful that I can share these thoughts with you.
My prayer for this Thanksgiving is that we will remember to be thankful in our daily lives, pause from the frantic running around for just a little while and take note of why we are thankful, and make sure to let those who we are thankful for know our gratitude.
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