Today I have watched my news feed fill up with a lot of hurting Mommas. A lot of angry Mommas. I don’t blame them. Their tables have an empty seat. Their children, nieces, and nephews are running around without the child who was supposed to be. They are surround by laughing family and friends when inside they feel forgotten and alone. Today, just as much as any other day, they are hurting. They are broken. I know, because this year I am broken too.
While the rest of America posts happy pictures of homes full of family, my heart breaks for all those alone. When I see “Baby’s First Thanksgiving” pictures, my heart breaks for the Momma’s missing out on the joy of a first thanksgiving. When I look at my plate full of food, my heart breaks for those in hunger. This Thanksgiving my heart breaks for all those who are broken.
How can you feel thankful when you are drowning in sorrow? When you are putting on a false smile and asking all the right questions so family won’t see your sadness? When all around you, is the reminder that you are broken? How can you be thankful today, Thanksgiving day?
By recognizing thanksgiving is a choice.
Its okay to not feel thankful. Maybe today anger and sorrow are clouding your vision of the things you can be thankful for. And if that is how you feel today, that’s okay. But tomorow when you wake up, choose thanksgiving.
We’ve all heard it said that love is a choice. When I started dating Jesse I wouldn’t let him say “I Love You” until he chose it. Not until we were engaged and married and he had offically chosen to love me til death does us part. I didn’t want to hear “I love you” in the head-over-heals falling in love phase. I wanted the “I love you” in the hard days of marriage. When we were exhauseted and frusrated. When saying “I love you” was the last thing we were feeling. I wanted it when it meant something. I wanted it when it was a choice.
I think Thanksgiving is a lot like love. Even when you don’t feel it, you choose to practice it.
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you: do this in rememberance of me” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
In the middle of the hardest night of his life, Jesus paused and gave thanks. In the midst of sorrow, He chose thanksgiving. If you’re going to model your life after anyone, model it after Jesus. Take up your cross and give thanks. Don’t save it for the good things that come your way. That’s too easy. Give thanksgiving when it means something.
Thanksgiving is a choice.
Josiah