1. It is still politically correct to wish someone a Happy Thanksgiving. There are no alternative greetings.
2. It is still fairly noncommercial. You get together with family, eat, watch the game and the parade, give thanks. Same program for decades.
3. It is one final moment of peace, of selah, before the craziness of the Christmas holiday.
4. It is very American. Sure, there are harvest celebrations and similar festivities in other countries, but this particular day celebrated in this particular way is ours.
5. It kicks off the Christmas season. I know some people get out the trees and tinsel as soon as Halloween ends, but for us, Thanksgiving gives us permission to play the Christmas CDs and start decorating.
2. It is still fairly noncommercial. You get together with family, eat, watch the game and the parade, give thanks. Same program for decades.
3. It is one final moment of peace, of selah, before the craziness of the Christmas holiday.
4. It is very American. Sure, there are harvest celebrations and similar festivities in other countries, but this particular day celebrated in this particular way is ours.
5. It kicks off the Christmas season. I know some people get out the trees and tinsel as soon as Halloween ends, but for us, Thanksgiving gives us permission to play the Christmas CDs and start decorating.
6. The very name tells us the purpose - to give thanks - and it assumes that there is Someone to give thanks to.
7. The history behind the "first" American thanksgiving is poignant - a moment to recognize the goodness of God in the midst of great suffering and loss - and a reminder that it is more than the food and the football games.
8. The multicultural nature of that first American thanksgiving is provocative - Europeans, both religious and nonreligious, and Native Americans joining together to celebrate - and a reminder to reach out beyond my comfort zone on this day and_ the other 364 days of the year as well.
9. It encourages an attitude of gratitude the whole month of November. I love that my Facebook newsfeed is filled with friends who are counting their blessings, even in situations where it is just hard to be thankful.
10. The food is GOOD. Turkey? Pumpkin pie? Stuffing? YUM!
Blessed Thanksgiving!
7. The history behind the "first" American thanksgiving is poignant - a moment to recognize the goodness of God in the midst of great suffering and loss - and a reminder that it is more than the food and the football games.
8. The multicultural nature of that first American thanksgiving is provocative - Europeans, both religious and nonreligious, and Native Americans joining together to celebrate - and a reminder to reach out beyond my comfort zone on this day and_ the other 364 days of the year as well.
9. It encourages an attitude of gratitude the whole month of November. I love that my Facebook newsfeed is filled with friends who are counting their blessings, even in situations where it is just hard to be thankful.
10. The food is GOOD. Turkey? Pumpkin pie? Stuffing? YUM!
Blessed Thanksgiving!
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