Dependence Day

WEEKLY WORD

Dependence Day

Psalms 118:1 (NIV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

With the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, it’s hard to imagine that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but it is. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. From gathering with family to enjoying a great meal, to my afternoon turkey-induced coma to watching football on TV, I love it all (although I usually miss most of the football game due to the afore-mentioned turkey-induced coma). Mostly, I love Thanksgiving because it’s a much-needed wake-up call that reminds me of the goodness and mercy of God.

I heard about a 4th grader who was given the assignment of writing an essay on Thanksgiving and, being aware of Church and state tensions, he diplomatically wrote, “When the Pilgrims came seeking freedom of you know what, they landed and they gave thanks to you know who and because of them we can worship each Sunday you know where!”

As holidays go, Thanksgiving has a very unusual purpose, to give thanks, implying that there is, indeed, someone to whom we are to give thanks. I would suggest to you that that someone is God. Thanksgiving, if it is observed correctly, is a wonderful opportunity to puncture all of our American illusions of independence and to remind ourselves that, as the hymn says, “This Is Our Father’s World”, and we live here as debtors to His generosity.

Perhaps we should change the name of the holiday to “Dependence Day.” Think about it. If July 4 is a celebration of our independence as a nation, then Thanksgiving Day is a celebration of our dependence on our Creator and Sustainer.

Okay, that idea probably won’t (and shouldn’t) gain traction. But you get the idea. This Thanksgiving, don’t just focus on your blessings, focus on the God who gave them to you.