I was amused and not surprised yesterday when my Facebook feed blew up with memes and commentaries surrounding the fact that Halloween was over and it seemed as though the world had moved immediately on to Christmas. A crazy turkey with the caption, “Move over Santa, this is my month!” was probably my favorite.
I absolutely love Christmas. The season is meaningful and magical and holds some of my favorite family memories. So I don’t blame anyone for gazing at brightly lit up Christmas trees and sparkling ornaments as they browse their favorite stores in November {ok, let’s be honest, it was actually October that these beautiful signs of the season began to appear}. And I don’t make fun of those that start sharing their holiday playlist before they even purchase Halloween candy. No, I absolutely and completely understand how excited we get that Christmas is coming!
And yet, I felt bad for that little turkey who is sometimes overlooked or pushed aside. Often, the most attention we give to Thanksgiving is in planning our delicious menus. Christmas gets at least the entire month of December {what with Advent being celebrated so purposefully now} and also a few months prior. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, gets our Pinterest, cookbook and grocery list attention in the second week of November.
To give gratitude its proper place in our lives does not mean we have to choose between holidays. We can get equally excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas {at the same time} because each holiday is beautifully and divinely connected to the other.
If Advent prepares our hearts in expectation for the gift of the Savior then November and Thanksgiving first prepares us to wait with gratitude. It doesn’t have to be either/or. It can and must be both.
So this month, as we prepare for Thanksgiving and look forward to Christmas, I’m trying these simple ways to give gratitude its proper place in the busyness of the season:
- When children talk about their Christmas wish list, ask them to stop and share 3 things for which they are thankful.
- While preparing holiday menus, say a prayer for those who may struggle to put food on the table in this season.
- With each mention of Christmas or view of decorations in the store, stop and thank God for the gift of his Son.
- Commit to waiting until at least the day after Thanksgiving to put up Christmas decorations. Instead, place a Tree of Gratitude or Blessings Jar in the center of the home and write/display things for which we are thankful.
- Find ways to be intentional at the Thanksgiving table to celebrate family, gratitude, legacy and love. This celebration can begin at our Thanksgiving feast and extend through the season.
- Involve the family in ways that give back such as volunteering at a local shelter or participating in a gift drive like Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child.
- Simply talk about why we celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas and how the two holidays are so beautifully connected to each other.
Everyone will share in the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. Psalm 145:7 NLT
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given. . .and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
There is no greater reason than this to be thankful. May our gratitude be abundant this Thanksgiving because of the miracle of Jesus.
What are some of your favorite ways to focus on gratitude as you look towards Christmas?
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