Thanksgiving Reflections

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and as I reflect upon it, I realize that it is one of my favorite holidays. Part of the reason is that it marks the changing of the seasons to me. I think of fall ending with Thanksgiving and winter truly settling upon us. The first snowfall has usually come, or is just around the corner, and the anticipation of Christmas always comes with that. When I see the world covered in white for the first time that year on a winter morning, my soul soars with thoughts of celebrating the birth of Jesus, giving and receiving presents, and visiting with family.

And with that thought, the thought of family, we come to the main reason why I love Thanksgiving so, because to me, more than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is about family.  When my wife and I wake up that morning, we pack the care with food and treats, and then head to grandmother’s house, or my parents’ house, or my mother-in-law’s, looking forward to seeing family members we may have not visited with since last Thanksgiving. When we get there, we eat and drink and talk and laugh, and really just commune with each other. Before we begin dinner, my family has a tradition. As we sit around the table, we each take a moment to mention one thing we are thankful for from the year that will soon come to a close.

It is in those moments, when I listen to what others have to say and I prepare for my turn, that I realize how blessed I am. I have a family that loves me, a wonderful wife, food on the table, and my health. I have a home to shelter me and an income from my profession that is supplying more than I need. I am a wealthy man – not in the context of Bill Gates, but by the standards of most in this world.

And that brings me to my final reflection this holiday season. There are many in this world who are not in my place. They do not have a family to visit during Thanksgiving, or food to put on the table, or a roof over their heads. They worry about scraping by for another day, not what restaurant to have dinner at on Friday night, or movie they want to see at the theater on the weekend. They have not been blessed in the material things of this world.

Often I ask myself why I have been given so much, when so many others have been given so little, people no less worthy than I. Then I think about how Jesus spent many a sermon preaching about helping others, and demonstrated the same with his own actions. That is when I realize that my line of thinking is wrong. It is not important to ask why some of us have more than we need while many others have less. What should be asked is: What should I do with the blessings I have received when so many in the world have need?

And is that not a perfect question to reflect upon in connection with a holiday using the words ‘thanks’ and ‘giving’ in its name?

Peace be with you, my friends.

Sean Nonn

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