Once a year in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving; a time to remember to be thankful for all that we have. Friends and family gather together to give thanks over a bountiful meal, with turkey & mashed potatoes & gravy, yams, green beans with slivered almonds, coleslaw, cranberry sauce, fresh rolls from the oven…, and pie! Apple pie (a la mode), pumpkin pie, blueberry pie, even rhubarb pie. Kinda gets your mouth watering.
And football. LOTS of football! This year, depending on the number of channels you pay for, there are 3 NFL games from which to choose; but that’s just the NFL. Did I mention there’s more food! Hot crab dip, onion dip, spicy habanero salsa, and even Tzatziki. Blown your diet yet?
Then think of the next 3 weeks + of turkey & cranberry sauce sandwiches. Maybe not.
Oddly, one of the things missing in all this celebration and comradery is— remembering to give thanks. In most American families not even a prayer of thanks is offered before the meal anymore. Who are we supposed to thank? What’s the history of Thanksgiving? Google it.
Here are some suggestions on how to instill an aspect of thanks-giving into your Thanksgiving.
1. Whether you are the chef, invited guest, or family, gather your wits about you to celebrate with an attitude of how can I serve rather than serve me.
2. If you are a guest, bring something. Anything. It’s historical.
3. DO NOT make football the god-of-the-day.
4. If you believe in God, DO start with a prayer of thanks-giving.
5. If you do not believe in God, at the beginning of the meal, thank the chef! Profusely.
6. Toward the end of the meal, go ‘round the table asking each one there to offer at least one thing for which they are thankful. Kids included.
7. Offer to help with the dishes! If others don’t offer, conscript them. Note- the chef is not allowed to participate in kitchen clean-up.
8. If you are a guest, do not linger about forever. Unless invited to stay, leave after you do the dishes.
9. If you are the host, be gracious, but sit down. Stop!
10. NOW you can sit and watch more football. [After you go for a hike to shed the excess bulk.]
From our family to yours, we wish you the best season of thanks-giving ever. Gobble gobble.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Gary
Clueless Christianity 