The Rev.

Joel Calhoun

 

Thanksgiving has passed for another year, and Christmas is around the corner as many are already saying. I, for one, am not ready to change gears and move forward to the busyness of Christmas. Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas; however, I also love Thanksgiving. If I could, I would slow down the time table for Thanksgiving and add a few more days. Seems to me we all have a lot to be thankful for. So let me encourage us all to relax a little more and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday a little longer.

Officially, the Thanks-giving holiday is Wednesday through Saturday. Researchers from AAA estimate that 42.5 million will travel 50 miles or more to visit friends and family during this time. Approximately 45 million turkeys paid the ultimate price for holiday feast. Millions of pounds of dressing and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy were eaten. Researchers, however, do not have accurate data as to the number of people who offer God true thanksgiving. This is where I feel I need a little more time. It’s great to meet with family and friends to enjoy their company and a traditional mean of turkey and dressing. It is enjoyable to watch the Iron Bowl and cheer for your team. However, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. No one else can do this for me. Mom may cook the turkey; Aunt Betty make bake the pie; and my sister Susie may bring her famous green bean casserole. Each of the family may contribute in a certain way to the meal we all enjoy; however, no one can offer to God my thanks. I am the only one who can express to God the thanks I have in my heart. So, I am not ready to be done with Thanksgiving just yet. I want to take a little more time and get alone with m Lord and offer true thanksgiving to Him.

The psalmist in Psalms 100 says it best:

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

“Know ye that the Lord, he is God: it is he that hath made us, and now we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with his praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

“For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Let’s take the extra time this Thanksgiving season before the busyness of Christmas to express to God our heartfelt thanks.

“Be thankful unto Him and bless His name.”