Pastor's Pen: Thanksgiving

In my life, there has always been something special about Thanksgiving. There are no cards, presents, costumes, or egg hunts, but still, it remains one of my favorite times of the year. The family was all there, and everyone joined in the preparations. Before and after the meal, there were plenty of distractions, but for a fleeting moment, we were present with each other. We took a moment of Sabbath in our busy lives to gather together.

Do you remember the Norman Rockwell painting Freedom from Want? In the picture, a smiling family is gathered around a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Back in 2002, Reader's Digest ran a picture by the illustrator, C.F. Payne, which seemed to poke fun at the Rockwell nostalgia. In this picture, a smiling family is gathered in the kitchen pulling a pre-made pumpkin pie and a roasted turkey out of grocery bags. Payne is illustrating how times have changed, but to me the more important lesson is what remains the same. Even in our day, Thanksgiving remains a celebration of family and fellowship.

However, too often our Thanksgiving celebrations have forgotten to whom we should be most thankful. We are quick to offer thanks to everyone but God. When I was young, I believed that the first Thanksgiving was given by the Pilgrims to thank the Indians. I’m sure the Pilgrims were thankful to the Native Americans for teaching them how to survive in the American wilderness, but ultimately, those early Puritans believed that they were dependent upon God’s provision. A Thanksgiving Proclamation from Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1676 stated that the one purpose of the celebration was “that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him.”

At the end of November, let us take a moment of Sabbath to gather together as friends and families to thank God for his provision. As we count our blessings, let us remind one another of how merciful and graceful our God is. Let us live as a people offering praise and thereby glorifying our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor James