The Meaning of Thanksgiving

[ZurokSlayer7X9]

This is a feel good thread where I wanted to share some of my thoughts as we get closer to Thanksgiving. I'll start with that I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and why. I don't really celebrate holidays, the only other holidays I celebrate being 4th of July, Memorial Day and Easter. I've come to appreciate Thanksgiving more as I age because it is a holiday that emphasizes something severely lacking in our world today, and that is gratitude. It's unfortunate that the holiday is becoming more obfuscated by Christmas year after year, which ignoring the spiritual reasons, has become an icon of frivolous commercialism and entitlement.

Thanksgiving is a good 'ol American holiday, but I believe the meaning transcends our nation and history. Other countries have their own versions of Thanksgiving, albeit with different traditions and history, but the message of gratitude is the same. To me, Thanksgiving isn't about turkey, football, pilgrims, or any pedantic detail, but realizing that the world and life is good, and that we are lucky to be blessed with The Lord's creation. I sit here and type this very thankful that I can wear a t-shirt at this time in the year where it is almost freezing outside, simply because of my house with its insulation and central heat, something that would have been unheard of two centuries ago. Heck, ice and ice cream could only be had by the elite of the elite 1,000 years ago, now it's 3 bucks at the store.

I guess the moral of my OP here is take time to count your blessings. The world may seem bleak and dangerous (and it is dangerous), but it is also good and beautiful.

 

[ljk]

2 extra paid days off.

 

[indyblue]

It's unfortunate that the holiday is becoming more obfuscated by Christmas year after year, which ignoring the spiritual reasons, has become an icon of frivolous commercialism and entitlement.

As a fan of Emerson Lake and Palmer, I always enjoyed this song and liked its melodies, but never really understood its meaning. I recently looked it up to find out it’s about exactly what you say above.

For some reason, it’s a very haunting song to me, possibly because I lost my wife on a Christmas day. The pollen count goes way up every time I hear it.

I guess I am thankful for the many close friends, family, and health I do have

Everyone tells me I should be thankful I’m still here, but survivors guilt still endures and I am still mad at Him for taking her from me especially on that day.

 

[Hoosierdood]

2 extra paid days off.

 

[snapping turtle]

This is a feel good thread where I wanted to share some of my thoughts as we get closer to Thanksgiving. I'll start with that I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and why. I don't really celebrate holidays, the only other holidays I celebrate being 4th of July, Memorial Day and Easter. I've come to appreciate Thanksgiving more as I age because it is a holiday that emphasizes something severely lacking in our world today, and that is gratitude. It's unfortunate that the holiday is becoming more obfuscated by Christmas year after year, which ignoring the spiritual reasons, has become an icon of frivolous commercialism and entitlement.

Thanksgiving is a good 'ol American holiday, but I believe the meaning transcends our nation and history. Other countries have their own versions of Thanksgiving, albeit with different traditions and history, but the message of gratitude is the same. To me, Thanksgiving isn't about turkey, football, pilgrims, or any pedantic detail, but realizing that the world and life is good, and that we are lucky to be blessed with The Lord's creation. I sit here and type this very thankful that I can wear a t-shirt at this time in the year where it is almost freezing outside, simply because of my house with its insulation and central heat, something that would have been unheard of two centuries ago. Heck, ice and ice cream could only be had by the elite of the elite 1,000 years ago, now it's 3 bucks at the store.

I guess the moral of my OP here is take time to count your blessings. The world may seem bleak and dangerous (and it is dangerous), but it is also good and beautiful.

I tell my kids the kings of Europe never had it as good as the average poor person of today in the USA.

 

[COOPADUP]

My son is hosting his 1st Thanksgiving this year. Just 5 years ago I would have thought he'd get to where he is today. These are the things I'm grateful for. I look forward to a feel good afternoon with his new family.

 

[indyblue]

This is a feel good thread where I wanted to share some of my thoughts as we get closer to Thanksgiving.

Oops. I guess I should apologize for killing the feel good intent of this thread.

 

[ZurokSlayer7X9]

Originally posted in the Funny Pictures thread by @ancjr.

 

[ZurokSlayer7X9]

Oops. I guess I should apologize for killing the feel good intent of this thread.

Not at all. In my experience, its the people who have experience lost and misfortune that seem to be the most thankful. I won't pretend to know what you've gone through (heck I've never even had a girlfriend), and there's nothing I can say that will change anything, but I'll say what I've told family members who have lost siblings at an early age. I believe this is not our true home, that we are called to be back home in communion with The Lord. However, it is at this time during these difficult moments that define our resolve and our choice to follow Him. The difficult moments are meant to temper our resolve, like how a sword is tempered in fire and quenched, or how precious metals have their impurities burned away. In other words, would our choice and fortitude mean anything if the path was easy?

I believe that The Lord takes away for reasons that will mostly be beyond our ability to know, however in hindsight will make sense. Some suggest that He calls them home early to spare them from something while those of us who remain still have a mission to carry out. I don't know these reasons, and one could go mad trying to find these reasons. I hope you find peace in the fact that this is not our true home, and that we will be reunited and may understand these reasons one day on the other side of eternity. Until then, we still have work to do.

 

[actaeon277]

I tell my kids the kings of Europe never had it as good as the average poor person of today in the USA.

Just talking about this with a guy at the Dentist.
Reliable, even heat thru the night in the dead of winter
Air conditioning
electricity
motors
transportation.


these are all VERY RECENT.
And for the common man.

 

[gregr]

This is a feel good thread where I wanted to share some of my thoughts as we get closer to Thanksgiving. I'll start with that I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and why. I don't really celebrate holidays, the only other holidays I celebrate being 4th of July, Memorial Day and Easter. I've come to appreciate Thanksgiving more as I age because it is a holiday that emphasizes something severely lacking in our world today, and that is gratitude. It's unfortunate that the holiday is becoming more obfuscated by Christmas year after year, which ignoring the spiritual reasons, has become an icon of frivolous commercialism and entitlement.

Thanksgiving is a good 'ol American holiday, but I believe the meaning transcends our nation and history. Other countries have their own versions of Thanksgiving, albeit with different traditions and history, but the message of gratitude is the same. To me, Thanksgiving isn't about turkey, football, pilgrims, or any pedantic detail, but realizing that the world and life is good, and that we are lucky to be blessed with The Lord's creation. I sit here and type this very thankful that I can wear a t-shirt at this time in the year where it is almost freezing outside, simply because of my house with its insulation and central heat, something that would have been unheard of two centuries ago. Heck, ice and ice cream could only be had by the elite of the elite 1,000 years ago, now it's 3 bucks at the store.

I guess the moral of my OP here is take time to count your blessings. The world may seem bleak and dangerous (and it is dangerous), but it is also good and beautiful.

I`ve seen in other spaces where people who obviously have no religious grounding, but they say that they are grateful or thankful, and I always wonder WHO they are grateful to. In the United States, the early president`s made it crystal clear that we celebrated thanksgiving to Almighty God, but obviously through the years for many people that`s been lost. We absolutely recognize that all of our blessings do indeed come from the God of the Bible.

 

[ljk]

2 extra paid days off.

View attachment 313561

Yep, Thursday and Friday. Heck, my kids' school even took Wednesday off, too.