Tomorrow, most of America will be gathering around tables and celebrating how thankful we are. While the turkey is the centerpiece of most tables, Thanksgiving is the perfect way in which different cultures tweak the day with their own special additions to the bird. From potato filling to mac and cheese to rice and beans to barbecue, every person, regardless of their background, can be unified and unique at the same time. Thanksgiving is a secular holy day; it is a chance to recognize how each person, whether by birth or struggle, can recognize just how amazing this incredibly flawed, yet beautiful, nation is.
For followers of Jesus, being thankful is at the core of who we are. The Eucharist, which is a Sacrament that Protestants, Orthodox, and Catholics share, literally means “thanksgiving”. Every flavor of our faith might define it a little differently, but the one thing we hold in common is that we remember Jesus and give thanks. We give thanks for God’s love – for God’s grace (gratitude) – for God’s unwavering presence; ultimately, we are supposed to be thankful for everything in our lives. And Jesus brings us together. Other faiths also find thankfulness in their adoration of God. It may take a different form, but it is always supposed to be there, putting our focus on what God has done, not on what we have done.
So, when I sit around the holy turkey tomorrow with my family, and again on Friday with extended family, I will give thanks for all of it. For a nation that allows me and you and everyone else the choice of which faith we will cherish. Or not. It will give me a chance to say thank you to those closest to me for all they mean to me. It will give me a moment to reflect on how much good this country does. And it will remind me just how lucky I am to live here. And, for me, at the center, is God.
Thanksgiving should not be one day. I appreciate all the giving that goes on during this time of the year, but I am also keenly aware that people will be hungry next year too. They will need help getting through January too. Just as being thankful is a daily occurrence, so is helping others who are in need of a safety net. My hope is that each one of us will not just be thankful for what we have; we will be thankful for what we can give. Being thankful isn’t just about us – it is about others too. May this season of generosity teach us to be more and do more. Because thankfulness isn’t about what we have, it’s about what we share. It is thanksgiving that leads to gratitude that leads to generosity.
Prayer – This week, God of Eucharist, help us to be aware of the blessings of life, and to be truly thankful. Amen.