A guest blog from Bruce McCracken, founder of House on the Rock Family Ministries. Over the years, Bruce and his wife Karen have spoken at Sandy Cove couples weekends and served as life coaches at Summer Together Family Camp. They also hold “Marriage Intensive” weekends at Sandy Cove throughout the year, to assist couples in crisis. You can learn more about Marriage Intensives here.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever!” Psalm 118:1
Thanksgiving is probably the most under rated, under decorated, and under celebrated holiday in America.
Halloween is approaching Christmas proportions with all its decorations and lights…and once those are all put away, the Christmas frenzy takes over. Christmas specials start playing on TV, stores decorate their aisle with snowflakes and mistletoe, and people take the chance to hang Christmas lights while there’s no snow. It’s not all that surprising really; the Christmas spirit can be pretty infectious…unfortunately giving thanks doesn’t seem to generate the same enthusiasm.
Thanksgiving is barely a speed bump…between these two contrasting celebrations of Halloween and Christmas.
Now with Black Friday sales invading Thanksgiving Day, this holiday is relegated to a short meal time, followed by hours of planning the shopping strategies of the Christmas season.
Let me challenge you to re-think your idea of being thankful. I don’t know about you, but I can come up with a list of things I want for Christmas much faster than a list of things I’m grateful for. I bet your kids can too!
Stop and think about how we pray… “God, please give me,” “God, please help me,” or “God, I need.” We get so tied up in what God can do for us, that we forget how to be thankful for what we He has given us.
So, this Thanksgiving, amidst the mayhem of the Butterball and football, I encourage you to take a moment to pray and simply thank Christ for the things in your life. Whether it is for your spouse, your family, your home, or the ability to buy a Christmas present, remember to give thanks, for God is good!
Before you receive a Christmas list from your kids ask them for a list of things they are thankful for. Challenge them to make it equal in
length.
