As I celebrated Thanksgiving with family and new friends, I wondered if this is perhaps the Christian’s strongest beachhead against secular culture. Yes, I am aware that many celebrate the day with misdirected thanks, but grateful hearts will always repel a materialistic mindset. Somehow, miraculously, Thanksgiving has successfully withstood the onslaught of those who would like to transform it into another major generator of sales. Even our most accomplished entrepreneurs have not been able to devise a way to market gratitude. Oh, sure, it’s a big day for turkey farmers, but the buck stops there because everybody knows that the best Thanksgivings are homemade.
Secularism’s only victory has been to sandwich Thanksgiving in between Halloween and Black Friday, where it sits as a hidden gem just before the kick-off to unrestrained indulgence.
I hope that on Thanksgiving Day, you were able to set your mind on things that matter. As Philippians 4:8 reminds us, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
With this in mind, let us prepare ourselves for the hedonistic attack, and pray for the day that Thanksgiving becomes a holiday that lasts all year.