I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30
We have entered my favorite time of year, Thanksgiving. Putting the recent election aside, people just seem to be genuinely kinder, more grateful, and more thankful than usual this time of year. For me, this time of year carries the greatest traditions.
For a few years of my childhood, my Mom implemented what I thought was the absolute worst tradition ever. On Thanksgiving Eve, she would serve only a bowl of white rice for dinner. No seasoning, no sauce. Just bland, sticky, white rice. She wanted to remind us of our blessings. The next day we would be feasting on turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry jello salad, pecan pie; but there were people in the world that never experienced these feasts. There were people who were going to bed with empty stomachs and no clue where their next meal was coming from. My brother and I seemed to miss the point, at the time. We whined through the entire meal and begged for even a sprinkling of salt. We suggested that we send that rice to those hungry people and get on with the feast. But, considering we still talk about this tradition at nearly every family function to this day, perhaps she made her point more clearly than she thought. Kudos mom, even though we hated it then, you taught us a valuable lesson.
My favorite tradition is purchasing and packing up a Thanksgiving meal for a family in need. I love thinking about the people we’ve shopped for on Thanksgiving Day, hoping that they see the love packed in that meal; praying that they find peace, rest, and hope as they settle down to eat together. As I’ve brought my own family into the world, this tradition means even more, as together we share with others.
Over the past few years, I have loved the new tradition people initiated on Facebook through the month of November, posting something they’re thankful for each day. I wish these attitudes would carry on year-round so that social media remained positively social rather than degrading into arguments that aren’t going to change anyone’s mind.
This year, we implemented a new tradition in the Sugano household: the thankful pumpkin. I saw a post about getting a pumpkin and writing down something you’re thankful for everyday running up to Thanksgiving, and then using that pumpkin as your centerpiece on Thanksgiving Day. We began our first thankful pumpkin in September. Since then, Brinklee has taken it upon herself to be our thankful pumpkin steward asking everyone each day what they’re thankful for. She often helps her little brother come up with his items, as well, listing things like toothbrushes and bubbles. Each day, we experience great joy reflecting on what we’re thankful for. This tradition may stick a little bit better than the white rice on Thanksgiving Eve, although the sentiment of gratefulness, thankfulness, and sharing with others is the same.
What traditions remind you to be thankful at this time of year?
Emalee Sugano
Lord, though the world is in turmoil, there is much to be thankful for. Thank you for your abundant blessings. May we always remember and be grateful. Amen.