Truly Be Thankful This Thanksgiving

It is apparent that with todays hustle and bustle, running here and there, making appointments and still trying to function has drained most peoples enthusiasm for holidays. This is because the holidays seem to just add to our extensive "to-do" list. More than ever, I am seeing advertisements for fast food restaurants, neighborhood restaurants, and big chains offering great deals for Thanksgiving day meals. Even the grocery stores are cashing in by making "Prue-cooked" complete dinners available for purchase. I know there are those that benefit from that, usually those who live alone or really don't have many friends or family, some seniors who can no longer cook all day long, but still want to enjoy at hot meal. But many of these newer advertisements, focus in on "not having to cook" for Thanksgiving as a relief and blessing all on it's own.

For me, cooking on Thanksgiving is a tradition that I would never want to let go of. It's that time when all the woman in my family work steadily on their own meal projects and continue to pitch in with the dicing, slicing, peeling or basting duties. We all talk about how blessed we have been for the past year and recall memories going back to childhood. We cook from early morning until dinner time, laughing the whole time. The children all get together and run around playing all types of various games, and the men watch a football game and bond over cars and work. When all is finished, we have a gorgeous dinner prepared that the rest of the company will enjoy. Everything from sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, turkey and so much more are displayed looking like it just came straight from a magazine. All year long, we cook but never does it look so beautiful as when we all get together and create the holiday masterpiece dinners.

Tradition is something so important, but we risk losing it or never even create it if we slip into the "let's just hit Boston Market this year" mindset. Thanksgiving dinner is so much more than about eating turkey and stuffing. Thanksgiving is about creating traditions, getting together and spending time with friends and family, and learning to be truly thankful for all we have.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated when the Pilgrims thanked the Indians for showing them how to grow and harvest crops and shared their plenty with them. They ate together in unity truly thankful for everything that they had. They didn't have anything on their dinner tables as elaborate as what we have today. But they had a true sense of thankfulness that carried them through and allowed them to put aside differences and enjoy time of togetherness.

Whether you have a small family, big family, lots of friends, or not so many, God has blessed you with many things this year. Some may be tempted to say that they can't see anything to be thankful for, maybe this years joy was offset by a tragic event or financial concerns. Please don't be so boggled down by your worries that you forget to give thanks and praises on Thanksgiving, and every day of the year to the Mighty Lord, who has blessed you with much. So let this article remind you that we really are to be grateful and have a sincere heart of thanksgiving. Relax as best as you can, put your best foot forward and continue on with the traditions generations before us have enjoyed. Don't settle for anything less!

Psalms 69:30-31 (NIV) I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV)Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I hope you all have a truly thankful Thanksgiving this year and for years to come. God bless!