Day 3: Thankfulness

This week is the week when many Americans prepare to sit around the table with their families and eat turkey, cranberries (which are actually not referred to as berries in their rawest state, but beans), mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other foods that are considerably unhealthy in excess. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, and I'm not sure if I can pinpoint an exact reason why. Maybe it's because my birthday falls shortly before Turkey Day, or maybe it's because my Dad's falls even closer to Turkey Day and his joy over the holiday has infected me. It also might have to do with the fact that I've always enjoyed a day when the whole family gets together and makes a big deal over a really traditional meal. Even when I've been sick as a dog on the day it never quite deterred me. (Which actually happened when I was a kid. Twice in a row, actually. And twice in a row on Christmas those years, too I believe. The stomach flu is a kill-joy for the entire holiday season).

Before I get too far into the details, I want to say that this post really wouldn't have much substance if I didn't get to the point. I don't have much to say, just a little to draw on. I just wanted to remind myself, and all who are reading, that they have a lot to be thankful for. Instead of making the holiday entirely about stuffing yourself with Turkey (or doing that, then trampling the masses at Walmart the next day), how about you meditate on David's Song of Thanks in 1 Chronicles 16?

I remember a few years ago (2007), I had recently been saved and had attended church with my family on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The sermon had something to do with Thankfulness, and David's Song of Thanks was read in its entirety. I was so fiery for God leaving that chapel, I decided that I had to read it for the family at Thanksgiving that Thursday. I studied it all week, prayed, and let it imprint on my heart. When Thanksgiving came and we made our way to Grandma's house, I was allowed to stand and read. I read through the entire song, then when it was over my extended family members rose their heads and shouted "AMEN!"

Then they started eating.

I was extremely confused. This was not the prayer. In fact, because they interpreted it as such, there was no prayer. This was a bible reading. And I wasn't doing this with a desire to be dogmatic or legalistic or whatever you'd like to call it. I wasn't going to cry a fit because there was some protocol to be followed. I've been to lots of meals since at which a reading of scripture is seen as a sort of blessing over the food. The point was, I didn't feel like I was being paid much heart to. I simply wanted them to enjoy it for what it was - but now that I think about it, they were probably taking it as their permission to eat. You can't demonize that. I don't blame them, because it's part of human nature that our mouths water. And, Thanksgiving Day isn't exactly a God-sanctioned holiday, either. The holiday itself was created by humans and is practiced by humans, so yes, we're bound to make it about something other than God. It's a cultural thing. And since then, the fire has at some points dimmed and I've done the exact thing.

Actually, when we actually DO pray (over any type of meal, rather than just Thanksgiving) I am HIGHLY guilty of just rushing through to get to what I feel really matters.

That would be food.

And I know...I'm so wrong.

We almost all do that, don't we? It's an ancient practice, to rush through what needs to be done because we see it as just that - a practice. Why should I make into a practice what is meant to be an action of the heart? I'm lazy, impatient, and I love to indulge my senses. I'm sure there's many more answers than that. Instead of doing that, sometimes I just need to pause and remember these words:

David's Song of Thanks

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of Israel his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

19 When you were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;[b]
30     tremble before him, all the earth;
    yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
    and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

35 Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,
    and gather and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.