Gratitude is an essential ingredient for Thanksgiving Day. Joined with laughter and love, and the savory aroma of turkey and dressing, and pumpkin pies, the menu and mood are sure to please. Thankfulness is expressed on other days throughout the year, but on the fourth Thursday of November, it reaches a crescendo as we pause, bow our heads and consider our blessings.
In years past, the day after Thanksgiving signaled the beginning of the Christmas season. We honored Thanksgiving, keeping it in its rightful place as the holiday in November. And after a festive meal in the company of loved ones, and a good night’s sleep, we welcomed the beginning of the Christmas season. We called it Christmas without awkwardness or apology, even though like now, not everyone celebrated the holiday because of religious convictions. Nor was there the concern about whether to wish someone Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas! Folks say times in the “good old days,” a very subjective phrase depending on one’s age and perspective, were simpler. Perhaps, but times weren’t perfect then and it’s not beneficial to pretend otherwise.
Wishing people a Merry Christmas does not take away their freedom to observe the holiday in whatever way they choose. But it also doesn’t make sense to wish sales personnel a Merry Christmas after berating them because the store is out of a certain item. The sentiment involved in whatever greeting is expressed needs to be gracious, thoughtful, and most important, sincere.
Celebrating Thanksgiving before moving on to Christmas makes good sense. We need to acknowledge our blessings and express gratitude before we jump into the hoopla that’s become the holiday season. And somewhere along the way, we should ask if our holiday observances still make good sense or does it make better sense to modify a few details. If the baking, shopping and decorating make us feel more irritable than joyous, the answer is obvious.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the details and the demands we put on ourselves, we forget the reason we’re celebrating in the first place. We’re not vying for a Martha Stewart decorating award when we set the table for Thanksgiving dinner or make Christmas cookies. The objective is to help guests feel comfortable and welcome, and share generously with others the gratitude and grace of the experience. Does it really matter if the pumpkin pie is homemade? Or the house is an award-winning display of Christmas trees in every room? If the work is worth the effort, wonderful, but sometimes less is best.
Santa Claus is renowned for “making a list and checking it twice.” Perhaps we should follow his example. We don’t have to get into the naughty or nice judgments, but list making can work like a charm for efficiency and for determining importance. What needs to be accomplished? What are the deadlines? What are the absolutes? Make the list one day, set it aside, reread three days later and see if the list truly reflects the feelings and goals for the season. And keep a gratitude list writing on it daily from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Amazing what we value and what is not essential but covets our time.
May your Thanksgiving Day be filled with blessings, and the wisdom to recognize them.