One of the biggest reasons we love Thanksgiving – and there are many – is that it’s rooted in gratitude. We share a meal with people we love, to thank God for the blessings of each other and our country. We may start the day with Mass or other church service (‘Eucharist’ comes from the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’). We may participate in a Run to support a nearby soup kitchen: Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Akron/HomeRunfortheHomeless for one fun 4-mile race, now in its 30th year! No matter how our day begins, when we take the love and laughter heard around the dinner table and add football, a hike or board games, we’ve got a recipe for one special holiday!
All the loving and thanks-giving aren’t reserved for next Thursday, though; you’re celebrating
them now, as you cross things off your ‘to-do’ list.
Think of all
your expressions of love and gratitude that are disguised as preparations: You love people when you
invite them to join you for dinner. You love when you deep-clean the house, shop
for groceries, and squeeze in more chairs around the table. You love when you
pray for the safety of travelers. You love when you happily accept an
invitation and prepare a dish to share. If you’re having overnight guests, you
love when you figure out where everyone will sleep and put clean sheets and blankets
on the beds. You love when you mop the floor, vacuum the carpet, and scrub the
bathroom. You love when you give what you have to those who would otherwise go
without. It’s all love, and it all brings a little bit of heaven to earth.
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12).
So in the coming week, while you’re crossing tasks off your list, thank God for all of it: your family and friends, a home to clean, food to prepare, and plenty to share. Remember that you’re already celebrating thanks-giving, well before the holiday arrives.
“Lord, as I prepare for Thanksgiving Day, may everything I do be rooted in love and gratitude to You.”
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