Tomorrow starts the beginning of the holiday season. For some, this time can be stressful. All of the shopping and entertaining can easily take over and leave you exhausted. Amidst all of the hubbub, it is important to take time to remember why we celebrate these holidays in the first place. As we enter into Thanksgiving tomorrow, let’s remind ourselves to count our blessings and give thanks.
Thanksgiving was first held in 1621 by the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day to be held every November. It was declared in 1941, by Congress, to be a national holiday held on the fourth Thursday of every November. So here we are now, in 2016, celebrating Thanksgiving like we have done for years. For many, it is simply a time to get together with friends and family and enjoy a delicious meal. However, it is and should be so much more than that.
I know that we all go through difficult times. For a lot of families, the holidays are hard. Whether it’s losing a loved one or good old-fashioned drama, it can be stressful. It is easy to focus on the bad. Instead though, we should look at the all of the good in our lives. Oftentimes, the good outweighs the bad when you put them side by side. That is why Thanksgiving is such a good holiday. It reminds us to be thankful and to appreciate even the smallest of things.
This holiday originally started because the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians wanted to give thanks to God. They wanted to thank Him for all that He had done in providing for them. Especially for the Pilgrims, this was a time to celebrate the freedom that they had from England. That may not be at the forefront of our minds as we celebrate tomorrow, but remembering to give thanks should still be at the top of our list.
As we get together with family and friends tomorrow, lets take time to slow down and appreciate. From little blessings to big ones, we have so much to be thankful for.
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9