Thanksgiving & Christmas – Together Hand in Hand
In big box stores, it’s been “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” for months now. They have touted us with their holiday wares since before Spring ended.
On social media, I’ve seen many of my friends skipping right over Thanksgiving and their home is decked out in Christmas glory! A Washington State friend displayed this photo and said “It’s Christmas at the Goodens for the next 2 months.” An Oklahoma friend posted the next photo and said “We couldn’t wait another second!” And, Face-timing last week with my Canadian family, I saw what it looks like at their place, 3rd photo. Oh my! That blanket of snow is all it takes to get their Christmas on. I know it well. We lived there in Winnipeg, MB for seven years. Honestly, there is nothing like a white Christmas, with lights sparkling on the snow.
Oh, I’m being nostaglic now! I don’t blame anyone for getting their Christmas on sooner than later! But, what if you are one who refuses to buy into Christmas fa-la-la-las until after Thanksgiving? My Fall/Thanksgiving décor will be up for a few more days – not enough time to take down and put-up Christmas, but I did manage to pull out my Christmas tubs to see what I have for my little space here in Austin.
I’ve come a long way, Baby! Once upon a time when we had a 6-bedroom home in Oklahoma, every bedroom had its own Christmas tree. I was Mrs. Santa to the core. This year, every bedroom (2) will include sweet manger scenes. My, how time changes our needs and wants!
This week, what was our norm with my family converging at our/my home for Thanksgiving has changed – probably from here to my eternity. We’re going to Rusk, TX for a few days of early Thanksgiving at Epiphany Ranch (Larry and Staci’s place). Then my Austin family will head to Muldrow, OK where Shawntel’s big family (50+ people and their 90+ year old grandmother), will have their traditional celebrations together. Back at home in Austin on Thursday, I’ll be taking down Fall décor and replacing it with Christmas décor. This will probably be my new normal. But, since I’m subject to change daily, I’m actually rolling two of my favorite celebration seasons into one in the spirit of gratitude.
Most of us want to embrace each season and make it as memorable as we can. We want to savor Fall with the leaves changing colors, pumpkin spice aromas and coffee, autumn décor. We want to remember the first Thanksgiving and the pilgrims, and we want to make the Fall season special and meaningful. But, what’s the big deal? Why should it matter when we begin to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas? What matters is that we open our hearts and our homes to gratitude at Thanksgiving and to the joys, delights, and celebrations of Christmas. Actually, both seasons could easily be merged together as one.
Both beautiful seasons tend to make us more thankful and kinder, while expressing gratitude for God’s blessings and for celebrating Christ’s birth. Joy to the world; the Lord has come. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. I’m already allowing myself to get caught up in the miraculous Christmas story as I set out my many nativity scenes.
I’ve honed into this beautiful journey that will lead to the most Holy Day when our Savior was born – and, it would have been okay if I started way back in July! After all, it’s more than a season or a day. It’s our reason for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE Who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them all by name — chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me. He totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, awesome God. That’s plenty reason to celebrate all year round!
So, the next time we’re tempted to complain about “too early”, let’s turn that around and welcome the reminder to thank God for the Reason for the season. It’s just too great a story to compact it into only one celebration.