Hold up. Halloween ended yesterday and now there’s Christmas music playing on the radio? If I’m not mistaken, there’s a separate holiday between the two. And it’s an important one, if I might add. Don’t get me wrong; I love Christmas time, egg nog, and holiday cheer. But when it starts on November 1st… not so much. We all know how fast time flies to begin with. So can’t the busy bustle of Christmas stay in December? Let’s not rush November. Most importantly, let’s not forget Thanksgiving.
Let me start by saying that as a child, Christmas was always my favorite holiday. I mean, what little girl doesn’t get tickled over new Barbie Mermaids and make-up glam kits? But as I’ve grown older, my excitement down the toy isle has inevitably diminished and my desire for gifts is near inexistent. I can truly say holidays hold a different meaning in my heart and I look forward to them for many different reasons than I once did.
The month of November should serve as a time of transition and humility. The drunken costume party is over and done with and we’re once again preparing ourselves for the busiest time of the year. But before we start hanging decorations, let’s stop a moment to cherish November’s own special celebration – Thanksgiving.
It doesn’t just mean good ole’ fried turkey and mashed potatoes. It means togetherness. As its name suggests, Thanksgiving is a time for us to genuinely understand just how blessed we are and to give thanks. Key word: give. My personal favorite Thanksgiving memory was just last year when I woke up early that Thursday morning to volunteer at a local homeless kitchen. Packaging meals and handing out Thanksgiving dinners to those who were less fortunate brought tears to my eyes and made me feel more thankful than ever. It’s moments like those when you realize, “Wow, what do I really have to complain about?” Seeing different parts of my community work together as one to help families in need was truly something inspiring.
With all that’s happening in the world, whether it be the divide in our own country or the traumatic events that take place overseas, it’s incredibly easy to forget that there’s still so much good left within people. How about this year, we don’t shove Thanksgiving under the rug, but we allow it to be the time where we focus on what’s good in life. Because trust me, there’s so much that’s good. God has blessed each and every one of us in more ways than we can count and we can all be guilty of taking those blessings for granted. This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to make a new tradition. Of course, you should still enjoy a wonderful turkey dinner with family or friends! But prior to the feast and the football, lend a hand somewhere in your community.
Before we rid the pumpkin spice lattes and bring out the reindeer, let’s enjoy the month of November and all it can offer us. I can’t speak for everyone but I know I personally will make it not only a month to give thanks, but a month to give back. Because at the end of the day, my Thanksgiving is perpetual.
