The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day will shortly be upon us. For many, Thanksgiving is a celebration to spend with family, friends, and for a lot of people, football. But, on this special day it should be all about gratitude and most of all, giving thanks to Jesus.
The meaning of Thanksgiving Day needs to be centered on gratitude, urging people, young and old, to look inward at what they have instead of outwards at what they want and for us to be content for all He has given us. I pray that I live my life from a place of gratitude and not entitlement.
That’s why, for myself, I feel this special day is about more than good food and football games. It’s about singing the Lord’s praises. He created everything we enjoy in this world, and all good comes through His grace. Today, the meaning of thanksgiving should be about us staying humble and being grateful and feeling the power of thanks which should remain at the forefront of everything we do throughout the year.
It seems that Thanksgiving Day for the most part, has lost its importance. We go from Halloween to Christmas in a blink of an eye. Halloween is all about costumes, parties, trick or treating and candy. It’s a fun holiday and we are given the license to enjoy. While Christmas has become about getting that perfect gift.
I remember when we waited in anticipation for Thanksgiving Day when my mother, aunts, and my grandmothers would slave over the stove making everything from scratch and when hostess gifts were a kind gesture given in appreciation for the host’s invitation. These days Thanksgiving Day seems to have changed. Football is now the main attraction, and our giving thanks has become an after-thought with a short prayer so we can “dig in” and get back to the TV rather than a heartfelt prayer of love, praise and gratitude to the Lord shared by all at the table.
Let us not forget service to the poor, hungry and homeless, especially on this day. When we serve the people well, it is also a way of serving God. So, as Christians who have chosen to serve, there is no greater service than the service that you offer to your fellow human beings. That can be inviting them to your table, working in a soup kitchen or contributing food or money to one of our local food banks or to I-HELP. No excuse is honorable for not helping in some way, small or generously or physically.
Matthew 25:31 states:
“The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. “
And as stated in the Bible, serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us, and to share the love and grace we’ve been given. The Bible reminds us that true faith loves the poor and that love is shown through action and with a humble heart.
I pray that we never forget the poor and that they have the opportunity to share in the banquet of thanksgiving.