Thanksgiving Leftovers

As a teenager, I always enjoyed what is known today as Black Friday.  It wasn’t because I went shopping on that day or that I was pulling out Christmas decorations. The main reason I loved the Friday after Thanksgiving was the leftovers.  I can’t explain it but the leftovers from a Thanksgiving meal are different than any other leftover meals.  For me it was a turkey sandwich with a side of dressing while the decorating for Christmas was happening.  I’m already looking forward to my Friday turkey sandwich this year.

The transition of Thanksgiving to Christmas has always been a merger of pumpkin pie and candy lane. For many it’s a strict rule, no Christmas décor until after Thanksgiving Thursday.  There are others who may merge October 31st into December 25th. No matter your choice on the matter, I have come to realize that Thanksgiving and Christmas are intertwined forever. The more I look to Christmas the more thanksgiving comes from my heart.

Paul said it this way, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” II Corinthians 9:15. The apostle was writing of how rich and full God’s grace is for us to receive and in conclusion Paul ran out of words. All he could do was give God thanks for the greatest gift given to mankind.  The more I step back and realize just what Christmas truly means to me personally the more I return for some Thanksgiving leftovers.  I’ve often said, we should celebrate Christmas and Easter every single day for what it means to us as Christians.  Maybe we should add Thanksgiving to the list.  

I find the story of Christmas so intriguing and astonishing at the same time. I love that Mary was not left alone in her family as the only lady that was pregnant. Elizabeth would become a source of encouragement to young Mary.  I love that the song of Mary reveals her heart of thanksgiving even before this child would be born. John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb when the presence of the coming Christ was nearby.  Even in scriptures we see that Thanksgiving and Christmas are linked together.

This weekend as the two holidays collide may we realize that for believers the two are connected in our hearts.  May the spirit of thanksgiving continue as we are amazed at His indescribable gift of grace.  May we fill our minds with gratitude as we experience the hustle and bustle of the season to come and remember the true meaning of the season.  I pray that thanksgiving will grow in our hearts the more we take in the precious love of God who gave us His Son.
 
So, as we haul out the holly and decorate the tree, take time to make yourself a leftover turkey sandwich. This Christmas season, make sure you have a lot of thanksgiving leftovers in your heart daily.