A holiday challenge to all Christian homes
We did Halloween... let's tackle Thanksgiving
It was my most-read post to date — Halloween for the Thoughtful Christian. I wrote it in direct response to the many Christians I saw on social media who felt compelled to tell everyone how they would have nothing to do with Halloween due to it being "evil." This view isn't really supported by historical roots (Halloween being another way of saying All Hallow's Eve, which was related to a religious observance called All Saints’ Day). It seems like many of the misled believers who've developed a passionate dislike of Halloween are in fact basing this on statements from self-described satanists or witches, who say they claim the day as their own.
This of course is not at all biblical. Every day belongs to the Lord, and as such we should be seeking to redeem it for him. You can read my suggestions for how to do this in the post, which I published on October 1 in hopes that it would give families enough time to consider how to implement! Likewise today I'm posting some ideas about Thanksgiving, hoping you'll have enough time to take action!
There is less controversy in Christian circles about Thanksgiving, although there's more controversy in general. We know the Pilgrims were indeed thankful to God and had a feast to celebrate that, with the participation of the Wampanoag tribe. Some say there would have been no Thanksgiving without the tribe's help in teaching the Pilgrims how to survive; others say the tribe wasn't involved or invited. We only have the historical documents that say they were present.
In any event, because — much like Halloween — this has evolved into a primarily cultural holiday, history is not the focus. Just as Halloween is, practically speaking, all about trick-or-treating, costumes and candy — Thanksgiving is primarily about a big turkey meal and the start of the Christmas shopping season as ushered in by the Macy's parade. It's also about "being thankful" in a culture that understands less and less about Who to thank.
So what's a Christian to do?
How can we glorify God for Thanksgiving, then? Of course it's considered a family holiday, often celebrated with relatives. However, because of its close proximity to the larger Christmas/New Year's break time for students (and others), many people who will celebrate in December with family are not able or cannot afford to travel just a few weeks before Christmas for this first holiday of the holiday season.
Your mission, and you should choose to accept it, is to find these people: College students with nowhere to go. Singles (or couples) with no nearby relations. Families new to your area who've relocated away from their relatives.
What if you make your Thanksgiving meal an open house for anyone who needs a family that day?
Before you panic — this works best if you structure it as a potluck. Every guest brings a dish to share for the feast!
How to find your guests
Let's start with "love one another" which biblically refers to our fellow believers.
Is there anyone in your church who's going to be alone for Thanksgiving? Ideally this is something that is discussed church-wide in October, so that an organized effort can be undertaken to ensure that nobody is left behind on Turkey Day. (At this point, maybe file that away for next year!) But it's not too late for YOU to take action this year. Even now you can ask your church to share your email or phone number with anyone who for any reason would like to share a family Thanksgiving meal.
Okay, let's move on now to "love your neighbor" which biblically refers to those outside our Family.
Is there a college near you? Connect with them to see if they know of students who'll be left behind when their peers go home for Thanksgiving. International students are particularly vulnerable to this, and would love the chance to experience American Thanksgiving.
Post in your neighborhood Facebook or Nextdoor app, asking people to message you if they'll be alone that day. Talk to your neighbors (the ones you met on Halloween, if you followed my advice!) and ask them if they have plans.
Contact local retirement communities to see if they know of residents who could use a family Thanksgiving. Assisted living facilities are also a possibility, but those residents will have more physical needs.
Insert your own ideas here!
But my house isn't big enough
Your house is big enough for whoever God brings your way. Remember, everyone doesn't have to fit around the (same) table, and you can always borrow or rent more chairs for the day, buy disposable plates, or take any other steps to allow yourself more room to welcome people. But it's certainly okay to set a limit!
That being said, it's possible you won't find anyone who wants to come. If so, enjoy your family time and know that God didn't have anyone for your house this year. Try again next year (earlier!).
It's more likely, I think, that you will find at least one if not several people who would like to come. Practically speaking, you'll want to set a date by which you know how many you have, because even if a bunch of people are coming and they're each bringing a dish, you will still need to know how big a turkey (and/or ham, etc.) you'll need to prepare, along with probably a few basics (gravy and stuffing, perhaps).
You'll want to make a list of the dishes you think are necessary, and ask people to bring those specifically, if you want. If you prefer to do your own cooking, you should still ask everyone to bring a favorite dish. People want to feel like they’re participating, and you could be in for a culinary adventure (or find a new family favorite).
I suggest that when you get "takers" for your invitation, you clearly communicate the following:
We are so excited you're coming!
We're asking everyone to bring a dish to share (either "we really need potatoes/vegetables/pumpkin pie/whatever" or, “please bring a favorite dish you love”)
Optional: ask them to bring a favorite board game. (A game time, an outdoor walk, or even football watching is a nice break between the big meal and dessert.)
We are so excited you're coming!
Make it all about Him
Because we are a people who DO know Who to thank, be sure to pray a heartfelt blessing over the meal, thanking God for the food, every person present, and for His remarkable gift of a pathway directly to Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is a powerful testament to everyone present that your home is an embassy of the Kingdom of God.
Many Thanksgiving hosts, including those who don't know God, will ask everyone at the table to share something they're thankful for. By all means initiate a conversation like this — the host/hostess should start! — and give everyone the opportunity to reflect on God's blessings, even if they don't recognize yet that's Who has provided them.
Ready to take the challenge?
If you're reading this the day it's posted, you've got a little over two weeks. Who can you invite into your home this Thanksgiving?
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