It seems to me that Thanksgiving has come to mean other things to most Americans than what it originally did:
- Football games
- Decorating (though some people skip over the Thanksgiving decorating and go straight to Christmas)
- Shopping
- More shopping, for Christmas
Whatever happened to thanking God for the blessings of the past year? My dad reminded me of what November's become when he told me this story a couple weeks ago: He went to Walmart with my stepmom to get a few things. When he walked in, they were already playing Christmas music. He couldn't believe that Thanksgiving got completely skipped over, and he told my stepmom he had to leave the store.
I don't blame him. You see, my dad is a farmer. He knows the meaning of Thanksgiving: thanking God for the harvest that will allow the family to get through another year. That's what it's always been about for me, too.
Though now, as an adult, my dad's harvest doesn't affect me much anymore, as I'm earning my own way. But the meaning is still there. And I've always loved Thanksgiving. It's a time of family, friends, and "going home". And I love the simplicity of those small town Thanksgivings, with church the night before, pie and coffee as a fundraiser for the youth group afterwards, and dinner with all the relatives on Thanksgiving. My favorite part of the food is always Grandma's pies!
I am very sad that this is my first Thanksgiving that I can't go home. But it will be one with new memories nonetheless, and as it turns out, I will be learning to cook it all this year. Which I love to do anyway. And over the phone yesterday Grandma taught me how to make sour cream raisin pie, a traditions and my favorite after pumpkin. I baked one as a trial last night, and it tastes almost as good as hers! It's the second best thing to being there, I guess.
I pray you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving, and remember to thank the One who is the giver of all good things.
