The American holiday of Thanksgiving has a suspect history, especially if you are Native American. Every Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder that your people were conquered and slaughtered and some were forced to convert to Christianity.

Other people have warm memories of family and great food. And still others enter this holiday with a reminder of their loneliness, betrayal of loved ones, and the pain of abandonment.

In 1863 during the Civil War, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national day of thanksgiving with not much clarity given on who we are thanking and what we are thanking them for. Of course there is the general “god” that Americans call the man upstairs, but certainly not the God who created the world and sent his Son to bring salvation. 

So what do we as Christians do on this holiday?

I think we have 3 options. 

1. Don’t celebrate and enjoy your day off
2. Celebrate as the world does with the world (this is not necessarily a sin)
3. Seize this opportunity to obey God’s command to “Give Thanks” 

I usually go with #3.

I spend the day with family in leisure, enjoyment, and thanking God for my life and all the good he has brought to me. It is a day to “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!”

God loves when we enjoy his good gifts and God loves when we recognize the amount of good he has brought to our lives.

I like to go around the table during dinner and talk about the things we are thankful for. I like to take a moment of prayer before the meal to thank God for who he is, what he has done and the blessings he has provided.

Thanksgiving is a day to fight off complaining and grumbling and to embrace gratitude. 

You can use this Psalm to guide you.

Psalm 100

A Psalm for giving thanks

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

2 Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

One thing I am thankful for during this season of gratitude is this church. I’m thankful I am your pastor and I’m thankful for you. I am thankful for how God has blessed and protected All Souls Church.

May your Thanksgiving be a reminder of God’s goodness and care and may you give thanks to Him for he is good and his steadfast love endures forever!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey