WHEN THANKSGIVING IS NOT HAPPY

There are many of you who are having a tough time uttering Happy Thanksgiving and in fact, dread the day.  For whatever the reason- loss, illness, estrangement, change, being alone--and a host of other reasons, the holidays are not anticipated with great joy and a thankful heart is difficult to even fake.


We have allowed the entertainment world and social media to convince us that everyone has a family centered, food filled day of joy and laughter. The entire world is riding over the hill and into the woods to the idyllic setting of grandmother's house, while we sit emotionally isolated and alone.  Getting out of the bed seems to be all you can possibly have the energy to do on this great national holiday.  For whatever the reason--Thanksgiving is not always anticipated with warm fuzzy feelings, but instead dreaded like the plague.  WHY AND HOW are the questions on your mind.


I am looking forward to the celebration this year, but can empathize with those who are not.  I am thankful for family, food, and the fun that will commence, but not every Thanksgiving was like this.  I would like to share a couple of things I learned about holidays and the dread they can create.


The most important thing I have learned is it is only a day--24 hours--and it will quickly pass.  Not in the mood to be with others---find something else to do-something new or different and out of the ordinary.  Read a book, binge watch your favorite television show reruns, go see a movie, volunteer at a shelter, take a friend to dinner.  You are not the only one alone or filled with dread.  Make the most of the day--and if you sleep 8 hours, then it is only 16 hours remaining.  Time passes quickly and so will this day.

It is a day of giving thanks--NOT necessarily a family reunion.  Spend time during the day in thinking of all you have to be thankful for.  The book I am slowly plowing through has an entire chapter devoted to our need to be thankful for ALL things.  If you believe God is omnipotent and there are no coincidences, then this day and your circumstance are all within His providence.  If we believe all things are for God's glory and our good, then we should be thankful.  If we stop to list even the smallest details of how we have been blessed, we could fill volumes.  Stop to remember the why of the day--not what is missing or not right about it.  A spirit of thankfulness can go a long way in creating a heart filled with peace and joy.

Above all KNOW there are others praying for you, standing in the gap, asking God to comfort you.  We are NEVER truly alone and He knows us better than we know ourselves.  In ALL things--give thanks!

18 In every thing give thanks:
 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:18

7 comments

  1. I wish we too had a Thanksgiving Day here in the UK. Sadly, it seems to me we have become a nation of miserable, self-centred, greedy lot. Everywhere and everything seems to be materialistic. The shops the last few weeks have been filled with Halloween, Guy Fawkes and Christmas goodies - be they foodstuffs, toys, or whatever. And now we also have Black Friday adverts everywhere. Even the local Funeral Undertaker has an offer of half-price if they bury you this week!

    They say the economy is in difficulty, yet it does not seem to have stopped people spending.

    Why can't people be thankful, for one day, to God for all they have? I tell you why. Because here in the UK God is certainly not in every home, office, factory, school or family. We have excluded Him from our lives altogether.

    God bless.

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    1. This saddens me, Victor. Though we may forget God, He is ever mindful of us. By the way. America is by no means anything close to One Nation Under God we once were. So thankful He loves us in spite of us!
      Blessings, My Friend!

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  2. AMEN VICTOR!!!! totally agree....and Lulu, I have to tell you something funny. I am so thankful that the good Lord is seeing fit to bring my mother and I back together, Bless her heart, my mother has been calling everyday since my surgery. Now, the funny part...she called yesterday and I heard this from my husband, "Yes ma'am. Yes ma'am. Yes ma'am. I'll take care of, Yes ma'am, I agree." click---huh? My mother called to reem my husband out, his mother, it seems is on FB telling everyone how selfish I am not to be hosting Thanksgiving---my mother caught wind of this. Lets just say, My mother put his mother in her place. NEVER IN THE 36 YEARS HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED. So, there. Take that Mrs. B, never underestimate the power of Mrs. K. Just saying.

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    1. Laughing!! Redemption comes in all shapes 😊 Happy Thanksgiving, My Friend!

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!