Paul and Jess Hoover: Thanksgiving 2008

It's a little sad to me that for most people, Thanksgiving has become merely the starting gate for the Christmas season. Christmas lights go up, Black Friday chaos erupts, and also "Cyber Monday" hits the net (basically the online equivalent of Black Friday).

I was thinking about how we, as Christians, attach a considerably higher amount of significance to the Thanksgiving holiday than do our non-believing counterparts. We believe that an almighty God is on his throne of sovereignty, fully aware of, and active within his creation. We believe that he providentially takes care of us, to the extent that will bring him the most glory through our lives, and that he brings both blessings and trials onto our plate throughout our lives. So at Thanksgiving, we sit around the table and give thanks to this good and gracious God who has definitely given us all so much to be thankful for.

For the non-believer however, I guess Thanksgiving must just be more about acknowledging our "luck" and reflecting on how things have gone this year. Gathering around with family and friends still provides a somewhat emotional experience, but ultimately, all the so-called "thanks" just kinda floats away into the atmosphere. It's more of a sentimental time to be with family and friends, and reflect on how it could be much worse; but we've worked hard, and gotten lucky a majority of the time.

It seems then, to make sense that Thanksgiving is more of a placeholder for the Christmas season for non-believers. Just a formal opening of the "most wonderful time of the year," which this year especially, is packed with hopes and expectations of providing a lift to our slumping economy, but that's neither here nor there.

But for Christians, may Thanksgiving never be the starting line for the race of materialistic madness that the Christmas shopping season has become. Maybe we need to really take a step back, even now a few days removed from "the day," and express our thanks to God. Maybe do it privately, to remind yourself that it isn't about the sentimental experience Thanksgiving often provides, or maybe grab some family members, or close friends, and together remind yourselves of God's goodness. Thank him for the blessings (which are numerous, just think about it for a few seconds...), and and for the hard times alike. Remember, God makes some parts of himself known to us more intimately during times of trial (think of the Spirit's consolation, of the "peace that is greater than understanding, etc.).

And most importantly, don't relegate Thanksgiving to a single day of the year. May it be similar to the corporate church gathering on Sunday in the same way that the gathered church experience should be a culmination of the whole week's worth of worship, praise, and prayer; and not the only time those things happen. Let thanksgiving me a defining characteristic of your life, and that way "the day" won't simply be the starting gun for Christmas shopping.

Anyway, here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving...