Thanksgiving Where did you Go?

Without a doubt this is my favorite time of year. The cooler weather, making gifts, lots of cooking, baking, and spending time with my family and dear friends. Did I mention all the great food? Even though I must that I am not looking forward to being unable to eat all the wonderful holiday goodies. I am unable to eat things with gluten now because of my recent diagnosis of celiac disease. But I must admit that something feels different this year. First I noticed it when I went to Target one day the end of October I noticed they had Christmas classics playing when I walked in the store and they were starting to put out all their Christmas items. A little early I thought to myself and then went on my merry way. Then I noticed it again a few weeks ago on my friends facebook status. It read putting my our Christmas tree. I asked her why and she said her daughter wanted to have it up longer. Okay, I guess I can understand that. I mean it is a pain unpacking, setting up, and decorating the tree only to take it all down and repack it a few weeks later.
But then it hit me. Thanksgiving is leaving the American culture!
I am going to get on my soap box for a few minutes. As Americans we don't need to loose sight of Thanksgiving and what it means. I understand that retailers are trying to line their pockets because of the recession but is that really the answer. I don't think so-not for individuals at least. I believe that the best tonic for culture right now would be gratitude. Webster's dictionary defines gratitude as the state of being thankful. Thankful is defined as conscious of being received. Actively being grateful for what one has! Yes things are bad but they could always be worse! We have so much to be thankful for as American from our health, life, salvation, living in America and infinitely other blessings. We just have to open our eyes and not be blinded by what we don't have. I urge you this month to start being thankful for at least one thing. I will also be posting each day what I am thankful for. I am leaving you with a post of one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns. As you read the words of this I hope that you stop and think about all you have to be thankful and not give into the Christmas commercialism.

Come ye Thankful People Come
Words by Henry Alfrod
Music by George J. Elvy

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.