A Time for Thanks Giving
Whatever
you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through Him to God the Father.
Colossians
3:17
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and on its heels is
Christmas. My sons are filling out their Christmas Wish Lists, I am anxiously
watching the sales and the days ticking by as I countdown to December 25th.
Too much to do and oh, so little time.
Somehow, Thanksgiving is falling through the cracks. Not
just in the stores where Christmas decorations, bright lights and seasonal music
assail you as soon as you step through the door, but also in our home. I still haven’t
dragged out the fall decorations, haven’t even thought about buying a turkey,
let alone sitting down with pen and paper to draft a menu for that special day.
Not surprising, really, in a capitalist society that
urges us to buy this, buy that, to find true happiness. It’s on TV, on the
radio, in magazines, in newspapers, on the internet… Unfortunately, many of us
buy into this philosophy. It’s not just the children anymore, it’s most of us
adults too.
Part of me wants to give in and succumb to the
temptation, part of me wants to just forget presents all together and just celebrate
the true reason for the season. Unfortunately, I don’t think my kids would let
me get away with a present-less Christmas. So how do we find a balance?
First of all, focus on each holiday. It’s time to knock
down a few spider webs in the shed out back and root through the boxes to find
the fall decorations. It’s time to set up the crepe-paper turkey, the lettered
blocks that spell “Give Thanks” and dress up the table with an autumn
tablecloth and centerpiece. It’s time to talk about our blessings at
dinnertime, when we are all gathered together around the table. It’s time to
read Scripture verses that speak about gratitude. It’s time to count our
blessings and put aside the mundaneness of Christmas shopping (there’ll be plenty of
time for that right after Thanksgiving). It’s time to dwell on Christ and who
He is, not just what He’s done for us. It’s time to focus on developing an
attitude of gratitude. It’s time to teach our children the importance of being
thankful, not just in words, but in actions and deeds.
Secondly, teach your children to show gratitude through
words and through actions. Joyce Brothers once said, “Feeling gratitude isn’t
born in us, it’s something we are taught, and in turn, we teach our children.”
So, before we pull out all the Christmas decorations, let’s take the time to
express our thankfulness for all God is, all He has done, and all of His
blessings towards us. Demonstrate your gratitude through actions such as
helping those less fortunate, sharing some of your surplus with needy people or
simply writing cards to the shut-ins, the elderly in nursing homes, to children
stuck in the hospital or prisoners.
This
is a big part of the inheritance we can pass on to our kids; instilling in them
an attitude of gratitude, not just at Thanksgiving, but throughout the year.
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