Thursday, November 25, 2010

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.

5 comments:

  1. I think like you, I do not appreciate this culture of rushing and consumerism.
    BTW, in Houston is HOT, so that anticipated christmas decorations, trees, and the like, look so out of place too...
    Have the best Thanksgiving.
    Love,
    s

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog today! I hope that you and your family have had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Do you know, I agree with you SO much, that it makes me cross to see English friends *doing* Thanksgiving!!!
    These festivals are for a reason, and Thanksgiing is SO important in US history, it almost undermines it for people all over to take it up.
    Especially when our own Harvest Festival (which is when we give thanks for God's provision in our lives) goes all but ignored, and Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night, is totally disociated from its roots - the celebration of the undoing of a catholic plot to undermine the reformation.
    We should all acknowledge other people's festivals and celebrations, but losing our own in the process is not a good thing.
    I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving.
    Your Friend
    Jackie
    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree and I wish I had been there to eat some dressing and rolls and brown rice!! I missed you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mindy, we missed you, too! The dressing and rice were delish, but there were NO rolls. Can you believe it??

    ReplyDelete

I love reading comments! And I appreciate the time you take to leave them. Thanks!