Can’t you taste turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, and cranberries! The images of Thanksgiving usually include a big meal and feelings of comfort. However, thanksgiving for some people means facing difficult people while still trying to find something to be grateful for.
What is Thanksgiving?
Webster defines Thanksgiving as an expression of gratitude especially to God. To be grateful we must first realize that any good in our lives or blessing comes directly from God. Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. (James 1:17, ERV)
Thanksgiving is created from a truth that is expressed in the humbleness of knowing and acknowledging how much we are blessed by God in our imperfectness, just because he loves us. When we focus on ourselves or the things in our lives we confuse and rob ourselves about God’s truth and Christ’s sacrifice.
Transforming Our Thoughts to Christ’s Creates Thankfulness
In this broken world, and especially during these unpredictable times, many people have taken the opportunity to realize how blessed they are with the gift of life. The COVID virus and all of its variants, illuminate the fact that tomorrow is never promised. The question we must ask ourselves is if we are going to focus on being thankful for God’s gift of life and Christ’s sacrifice first or if we are going to place our thankfulness on our accomplishments and the stuff in our lives.
When we focus on ourselves, our thankfulness is short lived because our live in fear and its side dishes of anger, resentment, dread, and bitterness?
When you choose to become a disciple of Christ, unfortunately you are not instantly healed of negative or unhealthy prior tendencies, habits, self-focus, or beliefs. Living out our faith requires us to work with Jesus to learn his ways. As we learn the characteristics of Christ and practice them through his empowerment, we can change the self-focus, negativity, or unhealthiness in our life.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
For many people it is challenging to see the silver lining in a thundercloud in their human condition. However, Christ’s disciples have his joy love and peace flowing in us and around us. Only we can choose to work with Jesus and ask him to help us see the good and blessings God gives us every day.
Create a Realistic Loving Plan and Enjoy
For years I tried to create meals and times to be together around everyone’s schedule, only to end up frustrated, angry, and disappointed. To solve this problem, I chose to create a schedule of a few meals and times to be together. I did not fill up every day on purpose.
After creating the schedule, I talked with my children and let them know that I understood their schedules were busy when they came for a visit. I wanted them to know that they were free to come and go and to join us if they could for the times I had scheduled. I told them I was just thrilled they were coming in whatever time they could share with us would be wonderful.
By creating this plan, I could stay in reality and be respectful of my children’s desires, responsibilities, and plans with other people I had made during the holidays. Staying in reality helps me give them the freedom to choose. It also freed me from falling into a fantasy that could never be fulfilled. Staying in reality and choosing to be grateful helps me keep my joy and peace. As I kept my joy and peace, my children seemed to relax more and have a better time as well.
What Will You Choose this Holiday Season?
Because of COVID and all of the other issues we have faced during the last two years, many of us are looking forward to spending time with one another during the holidays. More than ever we realize how precious time can be with the ones we love. The question is we let your excitement create unrealistic desires, expectations, and fantasies or will you create a realistic plan centered in Christ’s love?
In my life, I know that if I do not create a plan, I will continue to do what I did in the past by default. To make sure your holiday season is the best it can be, I encourage you to create a realistic plan. If it is possible to include your family members’ input, get on the phone and ask questions? If you know the dynamics are too difficult, create a few specific times and a bunch of free time which allows your family members to choose.
I know how hard it is to keep your attitude and heart focused on gratefulness and joy when you have difficult dynamics in your family. As Christ’s disciple, go to him in prayer and preparation. Choose specific Scriptures to recite when the enemy brings doubts, or negative feelings. Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5, NIV)
You can do all you can with Jesus to make your holidays happy. However, always remember every person has a choice and we have no power to change them. Take what’s good and surrender anything unhealthy into the hands of Jesus. Make moments you have with others be filled with Christ love, joy, peace!
