I will be preparing turkey for the oven in just one week from today - the annual gobble-till-you-wabble feasts will begin! Yet, everywhere we look, I feel as though there is less Thanksgiving and more Christmas. A trend I have been acutely aware of since 2020 and Covid. Many people opted for earlier trees to brighten lock-downs and offset the declaration of “Thanksgiving is cancelled”. In some ways, I understand the desire to welcome twinkle lights and jingle bells sooner, rather than later. However, I still can’t escape this gnawing ache that something is missing when Christmas comes too early.

I’m not criticizing those who are already enjoying the warm glow of a Christmas tree in their living room (I did decide to put my skinny pencil white flock up in the mudroom a bit early this year [not our primary tree, but a welcoming one nonetheless!]). Nor can I fault some of the claims I have seen of how people simply want to be wrapped in the joy of the Christmassy time of year a bit sooner. I can’t argue the peace of carols strumming in the background or the lighthearted enjoyment of seasonal movies on the TV. Instead, my angle is in how our hearts are prepared for the Christmas season.

It occurred to me, some years ago, how blessed we are as a nation to have an entire holiday dedicated to gratitude. As a matter of fact, the whole of November is often angled toward all things “thankful” from children’s crafts to discussions among friends and family. A feast and gathering as large as Thanksgiving can’t be funneled into one day of after-thought… no, it is ruminated upon all month long.

Why is this so significant? Because, just as leftovers are wrapped and tucked into the refrigerator, discussion turns to Christmas… to all that season’s festivities will involve and, yes, the joy and excitement the season brings as we reflect on the gravity and magnificence Jesus’ birth brings. Yet, much like how we can never truly appreciate the brilliance of light without knowing the deepness of dark – neither can we fully embrace a Kingdom joy until we have recollected what it is to be grateful, even for the simplest things. Giving thanks triggers our heart to joy.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~

As our children were growing up, we would take the whole of November to fill little construction paper leaves with points of gratitude. They would hang around our house until after the big feast. Each day we would have a prompt or a Scripture and we would discuss the simple and significant ways we could find gratitude…

…yes, for mom and dad
… yes, for brother and sister
… yes, for toys to play with
… yes, for good food

etc…! But why? But what more? Perhaps the preface to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 above can give us a clue:

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 ~

As the Apostle Paul is addressing the believers in Thessalonica, he is discussing how they wait for Jesus’ return and what their nature truly is as born-again-believers: children of light. The Gospels remind us how Jesus is light and Isaiah’s prophesy reflected in Matthew shares:

…the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
~ Matthew 4:16 ~

So, what does all this have to do with gratitude?

A quick word study on LIGHT tells us how, in the original Greek, PHOS, one definition states “the power of understanding, especially moral and spiritual truth.” The whole of “light” is Spiritual purity, understanding, and truth. So, when Paul, in 1 Thessalonians, talks of light and being awake (ready), he is encouraging hope, joy and gratitude because of the Salvation and understanding we have through Jesus Christ.

Rejoicing ALWAYS, not just sometimes.
Praying non-stop, over big things and small, good and bad.
Giving thanks in every.single.situation. Big and small, good and bad.

Heading into the Christmas holidays without a deep-dive consideration of ALL we have to be grateful for and WHY Jesus’ birth produces so much joy, just seems to make all the celebrations a bit-to-rote and superficial. I’m not saying that as a judgement, rather, as a caution.

What if we spent November, no matter our age and circumstances, focused on the goodness, care, and provision of God.

To lift up prayers of Thanksgiving for a trial in the year which made us stronger.
To lift up prayers of gratitude for provision when we needed it.
To lift up prayers of remembering protection through a storm

And yes, to thank God for parents because they guide and nurture
… to thank Him for brother and sister who fill our memories with fun
… to thank Him for toys to play with because we don’t have to go without
… to thank the Lord for the nourishment of food and hands who lovingly prepare it
…….. and so much more He does and provides.

To see, above all, the Character of God who loves and gives grace so exponentially that we are not left without hope and a promise. Then, as we soak these truths up through the month of November, when the time comes to shift our gaze to Christmas lights and hope and joy, we suddenly feel it more deeply in our souls, fueling and abundance of joy in expression and celebration in the truly GREAT NEWS of Jesus’ birth from a place of knowing how bright the Light is which has come.

Let us not forgot or forgo each opportunity of Thanksgiving this month.

Blessing,

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