ThanksGiving; Giving Thanks; Thanks For-Giving
Today is the day the country, who has inspired a worldwide dream, celebrates with eating turkey and an assortment of sides. For me growing up, my particular brand of food on this day was the traditional turkey along with black beans and rice, fried plantains and other Cuban food staples.
What is today's day of celebration about? Is it for an abundance of food and provisions? Is it being the example that most of the world imitates? Is it the dream of independence and the ideals that are broadcast overseas via movies, television and music programming? This day means different things to different people. For most it is following in-step with a tradition of eating too much and meeting with family you haven't seen / spoken to all year. For some it is waiting for the next day to buy things.
Let's have fun with a play on words, shall we?
Thanksgiving. This is what today is called. ( read the historical account at the link )
Thanks + Giving. Giving thanks. This evening, some folks actually discuss what they are thankful / grateful for. Some, however, simply dig in and start stuffing their face like that turkey has been stuffed. I remember suggesting at one Thanksgiving dinner years ago for everyone to share what they are thankful for. It was great to hear. Some repeated what others said while some came up with some heartfelt and original things to be grateful for. I didn't learn to do this from my family, speaking about heartfelt things out loud at the dinner table; it was taught to me at the 'church' I was attending at the time. I am grateful for those lessons of the heart. I am also grateful for my family and what they did teach me and the love that was always there.
Giving + Thanks. Today some folks are making phone calls to family and friends and thanking them. Maybe it is to the boss who gave you the chance when their better judgment said not to hire you... but they did... and you have done good so far. Some calls are to a relative or a friend who helped you out this year when you were in a jam. They didn't have to, but they did... and you were helped out in a major way. Some calls are to relatives who are too far away and not able to make the trip to break bread with you. Some calls are to thank grandma for her love, good cooking and warm hugs. Some calls are to thank grandpa for being solid as a rock when others lost their heads. Some calls are to your sister or brother for still acting like a sister and a brother despite your differences. Some calls are to children who have grown up and are on their own; thanking them for turning out to be people you are proud to call your children.
Thanks + [ For ] + Giving. Today, you could be grateful for the gift of giving. Yes, some people are thankful for having the ability to give to others. They have more than enough and are able to give to those who have much of nothing. This is what the story about today is all about! As the story goes, the first God-fearing group of pilgrims landed on the east coast of this land. It was the gratitude these particular immigrants felt in finding a new land free from religious persecution and tribute to tyrannical kings. It was the gratitude the Pilgrims felt when they broke bread with a tribe of natives for three days and enjoyed a peaceful time of celebration. They were welcomed, although they were strangers, "undocumented" immigrants and from a different background than the native-born.
For me personally, I can't help but see all things through how God has done things. I look at and I'm grateful for forgiveness ( For-Giving ) Today. It was through Yeshua that the evidence of forgiveness was poured out onto those who believe. And it is this gratitude for His grace which brings people together, even from different backgrounds. The natives didn't know 'who' Christ Yeshua was, but they did believe in a Great Spirit, Father and Creator of all things.
We could learn a lot from those Pilgrims. We could learn a lot from those natives who broke bread with the Pilgrims. We could learn a lot from the past so we can not repeat the mistakes. We can also realize, though two peoples or many peoples be from different backgrounds, they in fact are of the same tribe: God's children.
Thank God Today and every Day for all that you have... and for what He has done.
Praise His Holy Name!
What is today's day of celebration about? Is it for an abundance of food and provisions? Is it being the example that most of the world imitates? Is it the dream of independence and the ideals that are broadcast overseas via movies, television and music programming? This day means different things to different people. For most it is following in-step with a tradition of eating too much and meeting with family you haven't seen / spoken to all year. For some it is waiting for the next day to buy things.
Let's have fun with a play on words, shall we?
Thanksgiving. This is what today is called. ( read the historical account at the link )
Thanks + Giving. Giving thanks. This evening, some folks actually discuss what they are thankful / grateful for. Some, however, simply dig in and start stuffing their face like that turkey has been stuffed. I remember suggesting at one Thanksgiving dinner years ago for everyone to share what they are thankful for. It was great to hear. Some repeated what others said while some came up with some heartfelt and original things to be grateful for. I didn't learn to do this from my family, speaking about heartfelt things out loud at the dinner table; it was taught to me at the 'church' I was attending at the time. I am grateful for those lessons of the heart. I am also grateful for my family and what they did teach me and the love that was always there.
Giving + Thanks. Today some folks are making phone calls to family and friends and thanking them. Maybe it is to the boss who gave you the chance when their better judgment said not to hire you... but they did... and you have done good so far. Some calls are to a relative or a friend who helped you out this year when you were in a jam. They didn't have to, but they did... and you were helped out in a major way. Some calls are to relatives who are too far away and not able to make the trip to break bread with you. Some calls are to thank grandma for her love, good cooking and warm hugs. Some calls are to thank grandpa for being solid as a rock when others lost their heads. Some calls are to your sister or brother for still acting like a sister and a brother despite your differences. Some calls are to children who have grown up and are on their own; thanking them for turning out to be people you are proud to call your children.
Thanks + [ For ] + Giving. Today, you could be grateful for the gift of giving. Yes, some people are thankful for having the ability to give to others. They have more than enough and are able to give to those who have much of nothing. This is what the story about today is all about! As the story goes, the first God-fearing group of pilgrims landed on the east coast of this land. It was the gratitude these particular immigrants felt in finding a new land free from religious persecution and tribute to tyrannical kings. It was the gratitude the Pilgrims felt when they broke bread with a tribe of natives for three days and enjoyed a peaceful time of celebration. They were welcomed, although they were strangers, "undocumented" immigrants and from a different background than the native-born.
For me personally, I can't help but see all things through how God has done things. I look at and I'm grateful for forgiveness ( For-Giving ) Today. It was through Yeshua that the evidence of forgiveness was poured out onto those who believe. And it is this gratitude for His grace which brings people together, even from different backgrounds. The natives didn't know 'who' Christ Yeshua was, but they did believe in a Great Spirit, Father and Creator of all things.
We could learn a lot from those Pilgrims. We could learn a lot from those natives who broke bread with the Pilgrims. We could learn a lot from the past so we can not repeat the mistakes. We can also realize, though two peoples or many peoples be from different backgrounds, they in fact are of the same tribe: God's children.
Thank God Today and every Day for all that you have... and for what He has done.
Praise His Holy Name!
Comments