Some things I like (like a whole lot/love) about Thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday and time of year ….. it almost gets squeezed out by Halloween and Christmas, but it is such a special day.
Thanksgiving is the gateway of the Christmas season.
I spoke with family and friends and asked them what makes Thanksgiving special to them. I’m sure that each of you can add to this list as well:
- The day is all about family ….. no gifts, just great food and great times together!
- Thanksgiving food is AMAZING! We eat things that we haven’t had since last year: turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and all sorts of other wonderful things.
- Football, football, and more football!
- Did I mention the turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie?
- A long weekend off.
- Opening of buck season …. Here in Pennsylvania.
- Radio stations begin playing “all Christmas, all the time.”
- Serving Thanksgiving dinners at a church, fire hall or local shelter.
- Passing out turkeys and food bags to people.
- Friendsgiving – love that extra thanksgiving time with close friends before being with family later in the week.
- Project Bundle Up (in Pittsburgh) to collect and distribute winter coats to those in need.
- Our hearts begin to bubble up with generosity as we head into the holiday season.
- Back together with family after COVID. Wow, what a difference a year makes!
- BIG family dinner …. We even say grace; we don’t often pray before meals, but we do every Thanksgiving. We should do that more often.
Yes, there is a lot that happens around Thanksgiving, but it seems that this day is special because of its focus …. To Give Thanks and to care for others!
It is not overly commercialized like so many other days we celebrate during the year. As we think of the good things we have, we can’t but help thinking of others less fortunate. For a lot of folks, Thanksgiving may be a difficult day. This might be the first holiday without a loved one; some may still be dealing with COVID and all the things that have come about because of it.
We all know someone… Please reach out, check on them, set an extra plate for them if necessary.
Ronald Reagan shared a wonderful message to the nation in 1981. “In this spirit Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate … Americans have always understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive. This should be a day of giving as well of a day of thanks.”
Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you and to your families!
Brig. Gen. Chaplain Bob Pleczkowski
U.S. Army, Retired
ROA National Chaplain