Most of us have voiced our displeasure with the retail insistence of stacking holiday merchandise on top of other holiday merchandise. There is no other way to explain how a turkey wound up on top of a Christmas tree instead of a traditional star. I am writing on Monday before Thanksgiving and wondering if I should be deciding what size heart-shaped box of candy I should buy my wife for Valentine's Day.
The truth is that I like to keep my holidays separated in time and thought. As much as I like Christmas, I refuse to decorate for the Christmas season until after the last bite of turkey and dressing have been consumed and the final whistle has blown for the last football game.
Don't get me wrong - I really like Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the other holidays for what they signify. The food is great; being with family is wonderful; and a little time off from work is relaxing. But ultimately, I want to hold on to Thanksgiving as a day unto itself because we all need a time to stop, reflect, and give thanks. I don't deserve the family, friends, and possessions that are part of my life. But along the way, God chose to bless me with that which I didn't earn nor deserve. The greatest such blessing was His gift of grace. At Christmas, I will celebrate that gift even more.
So this week - I give thanks for all the blessings that fill my life.
At Christmas - I will celebrate the birth of Jesus who ultimately paid the full price for my sin that I might have eternal life.
On New Year's Day - I will rejoice in the start of a new year and the opportunities it brings.
Valentine's Day - I celebrate the love that have with my wonderful life.
Arbor Day - Who knows - by then, I may be in the mood to plant a tree.
I just don't want to let the holidays run together so that I miss their singular meaning. Happy Thanksgiving!
