Thanksgiving Then and Now

Happy Thanksgiving! 

     Holidays are almost never deleted from the calendar, just “edited’ if you will, changed to shape society.  Sometimes that is good, sometimes not. When we change them to suit society, we often lose the original meaning. I do not intend to “take to preachin’,” but a little soul searching will not hurt any of us.  

     Ask a seven or a 17 year-old where  Thanksgiving originated and instead of mentioning Pilgrims and Massachusetts , some will most likely say “on a football field.” 

     The Pilgrims, early settlers to our shores, spent some time in the field, but it wasn’t a football one. It was a field planted with corn, and they were thankful to have that.  They sang hymns like, “Now we thank all our God with heart and hands and voices….”(Rinkart) Children can no longer define the word “hymn” either, unless they are from Texas Aggie country where they sing the Aggie “War Hymn.” Called that by Texas A & M, that song will be sung Thursday in honor of their glorious football team. I love football as much as the next person, I am just saying.

      Both now and then people feasted for different reasons. Currently, some people do not thank anyone for their meal, not even their spouses, for they think they worked hard and paid for it, so they deserve it. I really doubt any of us  deserve all we receive in this country. We have been given more than we could ever achieve on our own, so let us take a moment and thank the Giver.  

Thanksgiving tea party for things both great and tiny. 

     Of course, some things never change as the women spent some time in the kitchen back in the 1620’s, as we do now.Nothing warms our souls, though, like good memories. I have sweet memories of my mom, grandma and aunts all in the Grandma’s kitchen. Nowadays people go to places like Honey Baked Ham and KFC and buy a ready- made meal. I say if that makes you happy, do it, but don’t forget to thank the workers who prepared it, so you wouldn’t have to spend time in the kitchen. No turkey for you? Spam and turnip greens, or huli huli chicken and rice instead of turkey will fill your bellies just as well. Just be thankful and not to yourself. Humbly bow your head in thanks to the Provider of All Good Things. If you have children, lead by example, and not just on Thanksgiving. 

Huli Huli Chicken and Rice For Thanksgiving? Be thankful!

     Check out this football game video between Princeton and Yale, yes, really they played football.   The first championship football game was played in 1876. (Thanksgiving) Besides the players, check out how dressed up the men were.  How things change!

http://www.loc.gov/item/00563607/ Yale and Princeton football game, 1903—Yes, they were already doing it then! The first football game on Thanksgiving came in 1876 with the Yale Bulldogs winning.  By the 1890’s over 5,000 high school, club and college games were played on that day.  Now that is what I call thankful for football. (Thanksgiving)

     Here is an easy to-do Thanksgiving project --Everyone who visits on Thanksgiving can participate. Purchase a plastic tablecloth at a dollar store. Gather several permanent markers. Put them on a plastic tablecloth spread on a surface that is accessible to most heights. Then place the permanent markers and a  tent card with the words, “Write or draw something you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.”  It will be a new twist to the old “What are you thankful for” before the meal, and quiet people might surprise you with their “thank yous.” If you watch, you will see your guests going back to check the tablecloth art.  

           

References
Rickart. (1636). Baptist Hymnal (11^th printing). Nashville: Convention Press.

Thanksgiving Timeline. 1541-2001 Thanksgiving Timeline. Retrieved November 23, 2014 from http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/thanksgiving/timeline/1876.html

This is to honor a soldier:

Retired US Army Staff Sergeant Miguel Ortiz and his wife, mother-in-law and 15 year-old son were murdered  in Puerto Rico in their home by thugs who owed them rent. A 13 year-old son survived. SSG Ortiz had been a professor for nearly 20 years at Puerto Rico's American Military Academy,where his sons were enrolled in the eighth and ninth grades. Pray for the living son that someone will come and help guide him through this sad time, and that God will become real to him. 

Coto, Danica. (November 18, 2014). Ex-Army sergeant among 4 killed in Puerto Rico. AP. The Big Story. Retrieved November 23, 2014 from http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3cb4ab14aef241049a46e958ab0fe164/ex-army-sergeant-among-4-killed-puerto-rico

DON'T SHOP ON THANKSGIVING! MAKE THE MERCHANTS WISH THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED CLOSED! STAY HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY!