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Well Turkey Day has come and gone and many of you, including me, overstuffed yourselves. You probably watched some bad football, played a game or two, went to a movie, or hundreds of other things people do over a holiday centered around coming together.
Most of us come together around a table, some big, some small, but we come together and often see relatives we haven’t in some time. We spend time sharing about jobs, family, significant others, all until Uncle Joe brings up politics and then, well you know what happens. Sometimes that debate rages on and sometimes a smart momma brings out dessert and redirects everyone. But believe it or not, that isn’t the debate that is most common at Thanksgiving feasts of today. No, that’s the great debate of when Christmas decorating and music should start.
Around our house, my wife is a staunch believer of “not until after Thanksgiving.” The rest of us, not so much. That debate was particularly front and center this year as Thanksgiving was so late. My wife dug in more than a chipmunk trying to stay warm on a cold November night. On the other hand, my daughter, who has her own house now, has been decorating since Halloween ended. All of our extended family had an opinion as well. Some have done just a little, so a mixture of the two holiday decors. Some were a no to decorating, but have been listening to Christmas music for weeks. So many choices.
Of course this really has been thrust to the forefront of our minds because the secular world starts the Christmas vibe after Halloween. But they do it to make money, and the debate we are locked in has nothing to do with spending, it has to do with Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As I helped my wife put up trees on Black Friday, something went through my head I didn’t expect. Why the decorating debate? Isn’t Christ at the center of both these holidays? Or at least He should be. If He is, really there’s no debate. Here are three reasons why it doesn’t matter if you decorate early, or after the turkey has hit the trash. Jesus is simply the reason for both seasons.
Decorating is just a reminder
Think about this for a moment. We decorate for fall/Thanksgiving to remind us of the change that is coming and the gratitude we should have.The leaves changing colors, the seasons changing, and the blessing we are surrounded with. Christmas decorating is to remind us of joy. There’s joy that Jesus came into this world and made the greatest change ever – one that allows us to be part of His family.
Uh oh, that means the decorating for both leads us to Jesus. Thanksgiving is where we remember – hopefully we do it more than just that day – how the Lord has blessed us and how He wants us to bless others in His name. Christmas is when the ultimate blessing arrived. The seasons lay the groundwork for the greatest change and the most joy.
So does it really matter if our decor is one way or the other? No, it is just a reminder – a reminder that we should keep in our hearts daily. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57 This verse wraps it all up with, dare I say, a Christmas bow. We owe God thanks (Turkey Day) for giving us Jesus (Christmas).
Both holidays are for family
I know some of our families are a bit crazy. However at the core of both holidays, both families are there, our real and heavenly. As we sit down on Thanksgiving, we hopefully are saying the blessing. And as all Christmas Vacation fans know, at Christmas dinner Aunt Bethany needs to say “the blessing.” If you know what I’m talking about, Uncle Louis’ voice is ringing through your head right now.
The point is we have been blessed twofold by our heavenly Father. We have been given people here on earth that have blessed us, and He gave us his only begotten Son, who allowed us to be part of God’s family.
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:48-50
For His spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16
Both of these scriptures show us the blessing of both holidays and the gratitude we should have on both. It really doesn’t matter if a lighted tree is in your dining room or not, or if we share Thanksgiving with blood or adopted family, our hearts should be full of gratitude for what the Lord has done for us every day.
God’s presence prevails
We talked earlier about the secular world and how they have reduced Christmas to spend, spend, spend. We do the same. How many of us spent time on Thanksgiving talking about Black Friday deals? And don’t forget about Cyber Monday. When we get that gift on Christmas, we say a quick thank you to whomever and move on to the next thing to rip open.The gratitude and spirit of giving has been reduced to caring more about yourself and what you are getting out of both holidays. Food, sales, gifts, winning games or just plain silly debates.
We often lose sight of God and how He is the center of both days. Everything good we have is because of our Heavenly Father. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change – James 1:17. Shouldn’t that be at the forefront of every Thanksgiving?
On Christmas, God gave us the best gift possible. Not a present, but His presence, as Jesus Christ came to earth. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God – Ephesians 2:8. He gave us the gift of His Son – a gift that we should have gratitude for every single day!
So does this debate need to go on and on? No, I think not. Whatever you use to remind you daily of what Christ has done for you, well, that’s what really matters. It may be a Christmas tree that goes up after Halloween, or a Pilgrim set out on your mantle ‘til November comes to end; it really doesn’t matter. So to that neighbor that leaves their Christmas lights up year round and turns them on every night, well show them grace, as they may be finding that joy and gratitude in a way you can’t imagine. Until next month, enjoy the leftovers.
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