In the fall of 1621, 50 English colonists and about 90 native Wampanoag men
gathered together to feast and play games. Nearly 400 years later, American
families gather together to feast and watch football. After gorging, family
members nap – in order to be their fittest at 3am when they will Kung Fu their
way into the mall. Black Friday brings out the Jackie Chan in anybody.
As marvelous as these Thanksgiving traditions are, they seem to leave out one major thing; the giving of thanks. Lest we forget, the big point of setting aside this Thursday in November was "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," according to Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln offered some additional suggestions, should the American people lack ideas about how to make the most of the day. He said:
The Thanksgiving Scroll. Place a large piece of construction paper on or near the front door along with strips of paper and pens and glue sticks or tape. As people enter, they must write down things they are thankful for and attach them to the scroll. Soon, the entire scroll will be filled with gratitude. (For fun, have the kids cut the scroll into a specific shape, like a tree or a turkey, and cut the gratitude papers into leaves or feathers that are added to the tree or turkey.) These words of thanks can be read by all in honor of God's goodness.
Table Thanks: Many families go around the table and have all feast members vocalize the things they are thankful for. There are variations on this theme.
As marvelous as these Thanksgiving traditions are, they seem to leave out one major thing; the giving of thanks. Lest we forget, the big point of setting aside this Thursday in November was "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," according to Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln offered some additional suggestions, should the American people lack ideas about how to make the most of the day. He said:
"And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."We'll forgive the great president for his run-on sentence and take his meaning seriously. We also want to add to his list of recommendations and offer our readers some additional ideas about making this coming Thursday a day truly dedicated to our wonderful God and Savior.
The Thanksgiving Scroll. Place a large piece of construction paper on or near the front door along with strips of paper and pens and glue sticks or tape. As people enter, they must write down things they are thankful for and attach them to the scroll. Soon, the entire scroll will be filled with gratitude. (For fun, have the kids cut the scroll into a specific shape, like a tree or a turkey, and cut the gratitude papers into leaves or feathers that are added to the tree or turkey.) These words of thanks can be read by all in honor of God's goodness.
Table Thanks: Many families go around the table and have all feast members vocalize the things they are thankful for. There are variations on this theme.
Toasting: Ask those at the table to offer a toast, even if just raising a glass of apple juice or egg nog, toasting God for His greatness.
Indian Corn: Set one or two ears of Indian corn next to each plate and as the thanks-givers take their turns, they place an ear of corn into a basket. At the end, the basket becomes the center-piece for the table and serves as a reminder of all the good things God has done.
Bible Verses: Write verses of praise and thanksgiving on cards that are placed at each place setting, and have everybody take turns reading their verses and offering the things that they themselves are thankful for.
Kitchen Conversations:
Turning off the football game will make a lot of people grouchy and not at all
thankful. However, there is great joy to be had in taking time during the
evening's one-on-one conversations to tell about all the great things God has
done. Whether the year has been difficult financially or physically or
emotionally, it can be a salve to focus on God's faithfulness in caring for us
through the struggles. We human beings like to focus on the negative. Let's use
this opportunity to focus on how loving God is and encourage our friends and
family by the excellent things He has been doing in our lives.
Jesus Christ is alive. He rose from the dead, and He conquered sin and death for us. That alone is enough to be worthy of all our praise and thanks for all eternity. Let's truly enjoy Him and all his additional benefits and kindnesses this year and make this Thursday the best Thanksgiving ever. A little Kung Fu for the Kingdom will have more lasting profit than even the best Black Friday conquest.
Jesus Christ is alive. He rose from the dead, and He conquered sin and death for us. That alone is enough to be worthy of all our praise and thanks for all eternity. Let's truly enjoy Him and all his additional benefits and kindnesses this year and make this Thursday the best Thanksgiving ever. A little Kung Fu for the Kingdom will have more lasting profit than even the best Black Friday conquest.
