 3D Journey
On Thursday, our family will host the annual family Thanksgiving gathering. And I'm gearing up for my only job of keeping the kitchen clean for 24 hours. I'm looking forward to seeing my family and sitting at the kids' table during dinner. Yes, I still sit at the kid's table on Thanksgiving! It's something about Thanksgiving that touches the child inside of me.
Sandwiched between Halloween, and Christmas, Thanksgiving is the simple, mostly non-commercialized holiday that is absent in the majority of department stores. I should expect this since other than grocery stores chains; there isn't a lot of commercial appeal from the sale of turkeys, dressing, pumpkin pie (I'm partial to sweet potato pie) and cranberry sauce!
Sure, there have been a few attempts to make Thanksgiving more exciting. You can buy a few Thanksgiving decorations, and there is the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special to commemorate the holiday. But the truth is that sometimes it seems like the only purpose of Thanksgiving is to eat turkey, watch football, and, to kick off the Christmas shopping season!
Thanksgiving, at least as I remember from playing Miles Standish in the fourth grade Thanksgiving play, is so much more than this. Thanksgiving is all about thanking God for the gifts of life, love, joy, and much more. Yes, it is true that we get to see family and friends and we get to eat a great meal. But our central purpose should be to give thanks for God's favor, power, love, and care given to us.
Now I'm the first to admit that when I sit down with my family on Thanksgiving for the culinary delights that appear at the table, I probably will not be thinking about Miles Standish or Plymouth Rock. Instead, it will be a reserved time for God and family. It will be an opportunity to reunite with loved ones and friends. It'll be time off from work to enjoy a four-day weekend, and an excellent excuse to take in lots of calories without feeling too guilty!
So on Thursday, I invite you to join me by choosing to celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings we have received. I hope that as you and your family gather on Thanksgiving to eat and fellowship together that you will take a moment and remember all the things that you have to be thankful. I will be doing this as we eat with my family.
And like the turkeys we learned to draw in elementary school, I can count on five fingers the things that I’m thankful for: my wife Dionne, my family, my health, friends, and the 55 churches that I’m blessed to work with.
On the Journey,
Quincy
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