For our family, it is called "Thankful Day". It isn't a day about the Pilgrims and Native Americans. It isn't a day about turkey and mashed potatoes (though, we certainly have them). It is, first and foremost, a day we offer thankgiving to God, the creator of life and giver of every perfect and wonderful gift. It is a day we celebrate one another through the giving of gifts. And, it is the day I'm totally wiped out for having spent the previous night putting together two pieces of play furniture: some assembly required!
All told, I spent from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am assembling two toys. First, a train table for my son; and second, a wooden kitchen play set for my daughter. The train table was actually a breeze. Not too much to it. The kitchen, however, took forever! (Or some period of time close to it.)
In the end, our children loved all of the gifts we gave to them. It is our way of showing them how thankful we are for them. It is also in lieu of gifts on Christmas morning (which I'm sure I'll blog about that around Dec. 25).
And just what I am I thankful for? Other than God and my family? We are blessed. Spoiled is probably a better word. We live in the wealthiest nation in the world, almost entirely free of fear of random bombings or famine or religious persecution. We have every technological wonder at our fingertips while there are children starving and almost the entire continent of Africa ravaged by AIDS.
So what am I thankful for? Really, I have to ask myself what should I be thankful for? Because I think when one lives in such a way, we really lose sight of all the small things. Like shoes. Clothes. Food. Transportation. A house. With indoor plumbing. And a furnace.
I suppose it feels it bit like Selfish Day, the more I think about it. How much I have compared to so many others in the world.
And what happens after today? What happens with the tinge of guilt I have for having so much to be thankful for yet take for granted? The answer I must give, and the answer I would like to give are very different. Shamefully different.
Take a moment today...and tomorrow...and the day after tomorrow...to be thankful.
