Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I would say that Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays of the entire year, though it's not really one of the "biggies" like Christmas, Easter, or even Valentine's Day. Other than the fact that turkey farmers make a killing (and I love turkey), it's not very commercialized, another thing I appreciate about Thanksgiving. But what I love most about his holiday is that it's not all about ME getting stuff (be it presents, chocolate, etc.). Whether or not you profess any faith, though I happen to, Thanksgiving is a time that we look outside ourselves and (hopefully) express what we are thankful for. I, for one, am thankful for my family, for my friends, the mind God gifted me with, the beauty I see around me, the place I live, a job I love--the list goes on and on. So often we gripe and moan about the things that we think are wrong with our lives and don't take time to reflect on how good many of us have it (and I am no exception to this--I'm totally a whiny pessimist). Almost everyone I know has countless blessings for which to be thankful, but most of us seldom express it. I think it's one of those things we should do all year round, but I am happy that we have a day (or a weekend) where we can be reminded of how to be truly thankful for what we have, materially and otherwise.

However, my hope is that realizing how blessed we are would make us reach out to others who are less fortunate, in whatever form that takes. I won't prescribe what that looks like for you because it's not my place to preach, but I know what that means for me. I pray that God gives me the strength and grace to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. And to be thankful.