Keeping Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

My family and I are about to hit the road to my cousin's house, where my extended family on my mother's side gather together for our annual potluck feast.  Since my mom is the ninth of ten children, there's quite a crowd of us.  We have a good time together.

And the food!  My mother's oldest sister, who is in her eighties, makes the dressing every year, and it is the most scrumptious dressing you could ever put in your mouth.  (As Southerners, we are not "stuffing" people.)  Another aunt makes the yeast rolls, which are meltingly delicious.  And there are side dishes and desserts galore.

It's my favorite day of the year.

So imagine my surprise yesterday when I turned on the radio to my favorite Christian radio station and heard Christmas music.  On the day before Thanksgiving.  And not just a song or two, either.  I was moved to send them a protest email. :-)

It bothers me greatly that our culture glosses over Thanksgiving and jumps right to Christmas.  Shopping centers around here are already bedecked in the Christmas glories.  And the Christmas tree lots are full of trees (which will be crisp as tinder by Christmas Day).  Even some houses are sporting lights, wreaths, and Christmas trees.  Several stores are boasting that they'll be open Thanksgiving Day for your shopping convenience.  (Although I saw a Belk commercial saying something along the lines of: "If you feel moved to shop on Thanksgiving Day, visit our website!"  Yay, Belk!)

Well.

Don't get me wrong; Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year," and we love its myriad joys.  But as for me and my house, we don't let Christmas eclipse the particular importance of Thanksgiving, in which we gather with loved ones and are thankful together for the blessings of our Lord.