This comic has been a popular this year. Originally posted by at least four of my facebook friends. And I? I immediately fell in love with this sarcastic slap to Christmas’ face by Thanksgiving.
In all actuality, I think Thanksgiving and Christmas could be close friends. Thanksgiving holds no weight without the gift of Christmas. Let’s be real, those pilgrims knew precisely WHO they were thanking in the midst of their thankfulness. And while Christmas doesn’t NEED Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving (if nothing else and only in it’s modern display) helps to refocus Christmas on what actually matters.
But the latter, in fact, feeds the dilemma. With Christmas getting closer and closer to the 4th of July every year and with commercialism the way it is, it is only a matter of time before stores play year-round Christmas music instead of just-around-the-clock for the month of December.
And with gifts to be thought of, budgeted for, and bought. With the stores lined with the reds, greens, hollies, and gingerbreads of the seasons. With the air cold and the snow beginning to fall and the look of little kids bundled like snow bunnies making you wish for the smell of a pine tree...lit as you sip hot cocoa in front of a fire. With projects to be had and parties and engagements to fill your calendar...the sum total of the whole makes it hard not to get swept up into the list of holiday things to do. I, myself, decided to participate in the staff-wide Secret Santa at work which begins this week...and comes with the thoughts of stockings and holiday scheming. And isn’t separate from three dates to put onto my Christmas social calendar. And then it blew my mind to realize that Thanksgiving is but a little more than a week away.
I didn’t forget...but I had violated my own carnal rule. I had allowed Christmas to get in the way of Thanksgiving. There is a reason that the above turkey with some hutzpuh, telling Santa boy what’s what did more than make me chuckle. Almost yearly I go on a rant about the irony of a holiday set aside for the purpose of THANKS being sandwiched between a far too (in my opinion) hyped ‘holiday’ which glorifies self, self presentation, and demands for sweets, treats, and a thrill and another holiday which is becoming further and further removed from its roots and often is seen kneeling down to the gods of commercialism and greed. With me standing between two mirrors I’ve set up facing each other to make me look good, is it really any wonder I miss Thanksgiving in the process?
I don’t want to miss Thanksgiving. And so I thought I’d do something novel...something WalMart hasn’t quite thought up yet. I thought I’d get a head start on Thanksgiving. You know, beat the holiday rush so that I don’t have to do all of my giving of thanks on one day when the stress is high. Instead I’d like to recognize that every day and every moment leaves an opportunity for a personal holiday...where the notion of giving thanks seems like the only viable option. I considered the fact that most of my list probably sounds a lot like other people’s but also thought that if I got started now...that maybe I would have a semi-legitimate list by Thanksgiving instead of whatever was “left on the racks to wrap” so to speak by waiting to do my “holiday shopping” so late. And so, if you don’t mind, kindly take your tinsel and wrapping paper and butt out Christmas...I have some thanking to do.
I’m thankful...
For a Jesus who loves me despite my mess. Who holds me on the good days and the bad. Who knows I suck, Who knows where I stumble, Who realizes I am a massive screw up with issues too great to name...and He loves me anyway. For the salvation and the relationship that is mine despite my complete lack of deserving...
For a family that continues to be there for me hands down. For brothers that make me laugh...who fix things and find things and give really good hugs for no reason at all. For sisters who listen and talk and with whom I can be completely myself. For a mom who still cries every time I leave to go back to work and who checks in and answers all of my medical questions and who loves so intentionally on people... For a dad who leads his family and protects it...who listens to my silly questions and rants and who still wants to take care of his grown up little girl.
For friends who have taken the time to get under my skin. To see the places of brokenness that lies beneath the surface and decide that I am worth their time anyway. The ones who walk beside me. Who care, who listen, who talk, who laugh, who do life, who point me closer to Jesus, who teach me how to trust, who make me a better me.
For a job that has long days and long hours and not the world’s largest paycheck...but my needs are met. My job is never boring and it has challenged me out of my comfort zone and back into pieces of “Anika” that I forgot existed. It gives me the ability to be intentional and opportunity to love on people for no reason at all. And furthermore, I’m thankful for my coworkers. (A specific shout-out to Megan Murphy who makes me smile and whom I accidently claimed was in my blog when I meant to say “blob”. Now it’s official. :D) We’re a strange bunch and, up-close, and unlikely gathering of individuals but my coworkers encourage and propel. We try hard to be there for each other. Watching the selfless way my coworkers give of themselves in their own unique ways to our young charges, compels me.
For food to eat and a warm bed to sleep in. For the ability to shower every morning and brush my teeth every night. For legs and arms that move and eyes that see and ears that hear. For sunshine to brighten days and rain to heal the ground. For a child’s laughter and a baby’s cry. For the wisdom of someone my elder. For freedom of speech, of religion...of praise. For a tedious laundry day because I have too many clothes and giant messes because I have too much stuff. For good cups of coffee with good friends...a combination to warm the soul. For the student loans I hate paying back because I have a degree. For the scar across my neck and the faithfulness of Jesus in the story behind it.
For far more than I continue to list at this moment...but may the list I started only continue to grow and become more and more specific as the next ten days build up to the joy that is not the beginning of the holiday season but the holiday that celebrates a season and a lifestyle of gratitude and thanks.
“Gratitude is one of the most telling signs of attitude. Or maybe vice versa. The moment I take time to appreciate, the moment I realize I can’t be both bitter and thankful too...”
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