“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!” –Psalm 100:4
My 14-year-old daughter and I recently got into a small debate. We both love listening to music. We just don’t always appreciate the same music. This small debate broke out in the car as we were driving home. She was wanting to listen to her music while I was enjoying the Christmas music on the radio. She finally gave up and put her headphones in. Before she turned her music on she looked at me, rolled her eyes, and said, “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.”
I admit I love Christmas music. Christmas is serious business in my family. Growing up, my mom would start preparations for our Christmas festivities early in November. We would pause briefly to gather with family, carve the turkey and share in Thanksgiving with one another.
The day after Thanksgiving, our house moved quickly into all things Christmas. All traces of Thanksgiving were removed. The tree was lit, stockings were hung, the Nativity scene was set out, and the lights on the house came on. It only took one day for Thanksgiving to become a memory and for the demands of the Christmas calendar to take center stage.
As exciting as Christmas is and as much joy as the Advent season brings, we must not let the practice of Thanksgiving fade away. The holiday of Thanksgiving gives us a reason to pause and give thanks for all the blessings that fill our lives. We have so many reasons to be thankful. Thankful for family, friends, our faith, and even that precious gift that awaits us all in a manger in Bethlehem. This week, I want to encourage you to not skip giving thanks. There is plenty of time to sing our favorite carols, but this week we offer our Thanksgiving.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
