My youngest is already counting down the various days for the holiday season. This is going to be a very long month and a half. He is beginning with Thanksgiving even though his goal is to get to Christmas as quickly as possible. The minister in me keeps reminding my well meaning son that Thanksgiving is also a significant holiday. Right now I cannot be sure that he is buying into that idea. Somehow his vision is fixed on the presents that he expects under the tree. It might be a good idea to do Christmas sooner rather than later. His gift list will not get much longer if we can get to the big day in a hurry. His list began with only two items on it. We may be up to a few more than that now.

Have you noticed how Christmas music began playing in stores of all types just as soon as we put away the Halloween pumpkins? Now it is true that very few Thanksgiving songs have a catchy tune. But we are reaching the point where Christmas now requires two months of preparation time. I walked into a bookstore the other day to find A Charlie Brown Christmas already going full blast on video. One writer defines all of this as his "unified theory of Christmas creep." You can find commercials for the big day beginning in September if you watch carefully. Just makes you wonder what is wrong with Thanksgiving for it to draw the short straw in terms of holiday celebration.

Maybe we should also be a bit concerned as to how we actually celebrate Thanksgiving once it arrives. The media tells us that it is a holiday for family. Lots of time and money is being spent by business to show happy families gathering around the dinner table. Know that I enjoy being with family as much as anyone but that is not the point of Thanksgiving. Also realize that even I know full well that the day is not about sports. It just may be possible that the initial pilgrims were able to give thanks without the Dallas Cowboys or Detroit Lions. Do you remember that the newspapers will be much larger than usual on that Thursday? You will need to set aside some time in order to wade through all of the sale circulars in preparation for Friday shopping. Now it is likely that I will take my youngest over to Rangers Ballpark to do some holiday shopping on that Friday. It still does not define Thanksgiving as an economic boost for a struggling economy.

Trying to keep a good handle on this holiday is a struggle. What I do know is there are many new things in life for me to give thanks. God does deserve some credit for the past year despite the obvious obstacles. Giving thanks has a way of opening our heart to His goodness. It reminds us that we are still human who will not replace God no matter how we may try. We will also do well to recognize how many do not even know God in a personal manner. These people may find solace in family or football but they will exist without that wonderful sense of God's presence. Our church is hosting the annual community service on next Sunday night. My hope is to find words to capture at least a snapshot of gratitude. We will gather together to ask the Lord's blessing as the people of God. I can only hope that our rush to Christmas will not detract from our recognition of just how much we need that encouragement.

Bro. Trey