Thanksgiving seems to be the middle-child holiday that becomes more and more overshadowed by its siblings, Halloween and Christmas. After all, Thanksgiving does not have the pageantry of Halloween, with its costumes, parties, and candy. Neither does it have the glitz, glamour, hustle and bustle of Christmas, with colorful lights, frenzied shopping, and expensive gifts. However, many people claim Thanksgiving as their favorite holiday.

Perhaps Thanksgiving is a more peaceful time after the chaos of Halloween and before the overwhelming rush toward Christmas. Families gather during other holidays, but Thanksgiving tends to lead our thoughts to family scenes of eating together from a bountiful, beautifully decorated table and of relaxing together while enjoying a football game. Unfortunately, those visions of peaceful fellowship have been a bit tarnished recently by the specter of Black Friday events that begin on Thanksgiving Day. However, Thanksgiving seems to be the holiday when the road leads to home.

The road less traveled

As we enjoy the abundant blessings of family, food and security, we should be mindful of another road many travel that leads to poverty, homelessness, fractured families, abuse, hunger and despair. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to gather to celebrate the blessings God has given to us, but the spirit of the holiday should call us to action throughout the year. Our Thanksgiving must become ThanksLiving. The giving and living part of our thankfulness to God is found in compassionately serving those on the beaten path. Hebrews 13:16 urges, “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.”

Sometimes, we become so focused on thanking God for being the recipients of God’s blessings — and we should — that we forget the giving aspect of Thanksgiving. God has blessed us so that we may multiply God’s blessings by our giving of blessings to others.

Question of the day: Do you think of Thanksgiving as a time for receiving or for giving?
Focal scriptures: Leviticus 7:11-14; 2 Corinthians 9:10-15; Colossians 3:15-17

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.