It's about the pie. It's about the turkey. It's about the sweet potatoes. It's about a quick transition to the holiday sales on black Friday (or rather, Thursday night this year).
But it isn't. At Christmas we always hear, "Remember the reason for the season.", but do we remember the reason... for thanksgiving?
I don't write about religion on the old blog (or anywhere else for that matter), but the other day I read something on another blog that really just stuck in my craw. I've complained about it to my mom and I've tried to move on. Obviously that hasn't worked, so now I'm blogging about it. What I read was a girl talking about how much she loved Thanksgiving (nothing objectionable there). She said that she loved it so much because (here it comes) it's a holiday that has NOTHING to do with religion.
I cannot wrap my mind around that thought. The purpose of the holiday is to be thankful. I do not know any friends or family (despite tough times they may be having) who do not have a ton of things for which to be thankful. My complete and utter irritation at this is somewhat surprising. I don't get wound up about religion very often. But, I cannot fathom Thanksgiving without an element of religion. If you do, then I ask the question: To whom are you thankful?
I recognize that many do not "have" religion. I acknowledge that to them, the day may really be about a day off, the turkey, the pie, the football, and the sales. But surely even they recognize that there is a religious base to the holiday that they simply choose to not acknowledge. Maybe not. Maybe I'm wrong. It surely wouldn't be the first time, and I know it won't be the last. But as we prepare to eat our weight in pie, and shop it all off the next day, I'm also preparing my heart for a celebration of thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34 (also repeated in Psalm 107:1)
But it isn't. At Christmas we always hear, "Remember the reason for the season.", but do we remember the reason... for thanksgiving?
I don't write about religion on the old blog (or anywhere else for that matter), but the other day I read something on another blog that really just stuck in my craw. I've complained about it to my mom and I've tried to move on. Obviously that hasn't worked, so now I'm blogging about it. What I read was a girl talking about how much she loved Thanksgiving (nothing objectionable there). She said that she loved it so much because (here it comes) it's a holiday that has NOTHING to do with religion.
I cannot wrap my mind around that thought. The purpose of the holiday is to be thankful. I do not know any friends or family (despite tough times they may be having) who do not have a ton of things for which to be thankful. My complete and utter irritation at this is somewhat surprising. I don't get wound up about religion very often. But, I cannot fathom Thanksgiving without an element of religion. If you do, then I ask the question: To whom are you thankful?
I recognize that many do not "have" religion. I acknowledge that to them, the day may really be about a day off, the turkey, the pie, the football, and the sales. But surely even they recognize that there is a religious base to the holiday that they simply choose to not acknowledge. Maybe not. Maybe I'm wrong. It surely wouldn't be the first time, and I know it won't be the last. But as we prepare to eat our weight in pie, and shop it all off the next day, I'm also preparing my heart for a celebration of thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34 (also repeated in Psalm 107:1)
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