Every Thanksgiving the majority of Americans sit down in the morning and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then there is a furious scramble as the huge Thanksgiving dinner is made ready. A couple hours are then spent filling up. Some families will go on to watch or play football, while others get the Christmas stuff out and ready. Then others will go on to watch Christmas Tree Lightings. Then there is bedtime as tomorrow is another day of work.
But what is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. I must admit that this morning we watched the Chicago McDonalds Thanksgiving Parade while eating breakfast. Then we spent some time getting dinner ready and we watched "Free Birds." I hope people don't really believe that the pilgrims and Native Americans were that mean and stupid.
But what is Thanksgiving really about? I mean, today's culture is making it a day where you get the day off to eat and it is seen as the beginning of the Holiday Season. But where did it come from? I am not going to spend all night giving you the details about The Pilgrims and the Mayflower because most everyone knows the story.
The thing is Thanksgiving literally means to give thanks. What are you thankful for? The Pilgrims had many things to be thankful for: religious freedom, food, being alive, and more. Our country is so blessed. We have so much to be thankful for. In other countries, people don't have the freedom of speech. If I lived in another country I might have to completely shut down this blog. I wouldn't be able to share the Gospel with others without being in danger for my life.
This Thanksgiving, jot down just a few things you are thanful for. If you have a family, go around the table and see what each person is thankful for.
I am thankful for religious liberty
I am thankful for my Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that he died and rose again so that I can live with Him one day.
I am thankful for my Mom. She gives me a living example of what a Proverbs 31 woman looks like.
I am thankful for my Dad. He works so hard each day just to provide for us.
I am thankful for my siblings. Each one brings such sweet joy to my life. Even when I yell at them, they forgive me.
I am thankful for my grandparents. I am glad that all of them are still alive and for the most part healthy. They teach me about God's Love by sharing it themselves.
I am thankful for my uncles. Each one has always made me laugh and has shared the Gospel with me through their obvious faith in Christ.
I am thankful for my Aunts. They all are Godly examples as they care for their families and help me learn how to do things.
I am thankful for my cousins. I am especially thankful for my cousins Mik, Andrew, and Zack. They are older or close to my age and our such Godly encouragement through themselves, their Facebook posts, and more. I am thankful for all the younger ones who make me laugh so much. I am thankful for little Hannah and Elizabeth, my only girl cousins. They are such sweet little girls and I love them so much.
I am thankful for my church. Even though I feel like I stick out, they try to welcome me in. They share the Gospel so vividly that I come home with new hope.
I am thankful for my youth group. I have had many youht leaders and all of them have been so encouraging and helped me understand stuff I never had before.
I am thankful for my friends. All of them encourage me with their Testimonies. They lift me up and bring me down to earth with truths I never had thought of before.
I am thankful for my readers. Each one has encouraged me through the fact that you have come back even when I left.
Thank you.
Psalm 69:30 "I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving."
