Thanksgiving is not a Christian Holiday

Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday. Well, let me clarify that. Thanksgiving is not a holy day, or festival, set aside in the Christian liturgical calendar. The act of giving thanks is very much a Christian response to life. The Psalmist said, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord” (Psalm 92:1a) and the apostle Paul reminded us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). But the idea of setting aside a day in the calendar as a holiday for thanksgiving is not in the Bible or in the Christian liturgical cycle.  Actually, a more theologically sound idea is to nurture the attitude of thanksgiving every day, in every circumstance, for all things, with all joy. That is much more difficult than setting aside a day in the calendar. As we celebrate a day of Thanksgiving this week, why not reflect on some ways that we can become more grateful all year long, beginning on Black Friday.