Sunday, November 22, 2009

Thanksgiving: A Daily Occurence

To be sure, we have entered the holiday season. Thanksgiving day is the bountiful, cornucopia filled hearald to what is for many, the most joyous time of the year.

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Native American groups throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Creek and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America [historychannel.com].

In view of this history, much of our focus on stopping and taking time to give thanks is centered around this holiday. I submit to you however, that to the Christian, this should be a constant in our daily lives. The word instructs that we,"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:6 Being ever mindful of the provision of God and taking time to thank him through prayer is both the duty and the privilege of everyone who calls upon the name of his Son and our Savior. Further, Eph 5:20 states that we should do this "always for all things."

The encouragement to us all, this day and all days my beloved, far beyond and more frequent than this quaint tradition, is to simply thank God every day in every way for the vastness of his blessings.

Strengthening our Faith